ORONO, Maine — The University of Maine men’s hockey team gave a much better account of itself over the final two periods of Saturday night’s Hockey East game against fifth-ranked Boston College than it had over the final two periods of Friday night’s 6-1 loss to the Eagles in Portland and the first 20 minutes of Saturday’s contest.
But when the final whistle blew, it was still another loss, 3-2.
Ron Greco’s first-period goal and Scott Savage’s second-period goal staked the Eagles to a 2-0 lead, but UMaine freshman Ryan Smith’s power-play tally with 1:36 left in the middle period pulled the Black Bears within one.
Mike Booth’s third-period goal swelled the lead against the run of play, but Dane Gibson responded 1:17 later with his second goal of the weekend. However, UMaine couldn’t grab an equalizer over the final 9:42.
Freshman Joe Woll made 28 saves for Boston College (8-2-1, 4-0-1 HE), which extended its unbeaten streak to eight games. Sophomore Rob McGovern had 31 for UMaine (3-5-2, 0-2 HE), which hasn’t won in seven games (0-5-2).
McGovern kept the Bears within striking distance in a lopsided first period as he made 21 saves while counterpart Woll made nine.
The Eagles, thanks to four power plays compared with UMaine’s one, had a sizeable edge in play over the opening 20 minutes, but McGovern was exceptional as he was credited with 17 high-percentage stops among his 21.
“[McGovern] gave us a chance to come back in the game and, ultimately, that’s what happened,” said UMaine coach Red Gendron.
McGovern wasn’t in uniform for Friday night’s game, but Gendron wouldn’t comment on the reason.
On Saturday night, UMaine did not give the Eagles another power play after a carryover penalty elapsed 44 seconds into the second period, and UMaine outshot Boston College 21-12 over the final two periods.
“We didn’t get off to a great start but, over the final two periods, we were pretty good,” said Gendron. “When we stop taking penalties and start making simple plays, we can be pretty good.”
“We didn’t put together a full 60-minute game, and that’s what you have to do to win in this league,” said UMaine senior captain Cam Brown, whose energy and tenacity helped rally his team.
UMaine was able to get the puck deep in the Boston College zone and use its size and strength to forecheck the Eagles, which helped negate Boston College’s speed advantage.
“We started very well tonight, but then they really took it to us. We have a lot of young guys who had never played in the Alfond before. But at least we were able to dig in and weather the storm,” said Boston College associate head coach Greg Brown, who was filling in for head coach Jerry York (eye surgery).
Freshman Greco scored with 6:50 remaining in the first period off a faceoff play. He won the draw back to J.D. Dudek, who slid it back to Connor Moore at the point.
Greco deflected Moore’s low slap shot past McGovern.
UMaine did not take a penalty in the second period and played much better, outshooting the Eagles 11-9.
But Savage capitalized on a 3-on-2 to swell the lead at the 10:47 mark of the period.
Austin Cangelosi broke down the left wing in a 2-on-1, but a UMaine backchecker took his cross-ice pass option away.
Savage was trailing the play and took a pass from Cangelosi in the middle of the high slot and snapped a quick shot through McGovern’s pads.
They had been 0-2.
UMaine went on the power play courtesy of Ryan Fitzgerald hooking penalty with 3:40 left and, after having a goal waved off because the referees weren’t sure if the whistle had blown to stop play before the puck went in, UMaine scored on the same power play seconds later when Brown circled the net and passed it to Smith in the low slot. His one-timer went over Woll’s shoulder.
Smith had a breakaway seconds later but fired it wide.
UMaine had an edge in play early in the third period, but the swift-skating Eagles expanded the lead when Zach Walker found Booth open at the left faceoff dot and Booth wristed it into the short-side corner before McGovern could get over.
Gibson scored with a 30-foot snap shot from the left circle off a Blaine Byron pass, but UMaine couldn’t get the equalizer.
NOTES: Gendron hurt his right hand during a practice last week when it was struck by a player’s skate. His hand was wrapped in a bandage during Friday’s and Saturday’s games.