Providence completes weekend sweep of UMaine men’s hockey with shutout win

Two turnovers, two breakaways, two goals and another loss. The Providence College Friars took full advantage of two University of Maine miscues and freshman goalie Jack Parsons made 20 saves in just his third start for his first career shutout as the Friars triumphed 3-0 on Saturday night at Schneider Arena in Providence. The victory completed a weekend sweep as the Friars thumped the Black Bears 6-1 on Friday night. Providence came into the weekend ranked 17th in one national poll and 18th in the other while UMaine was 12th and 14th. It is the first time UMaine has managed to score just one goal in a two-game series since Dec. 3-4, 2021 when the Black Bears managed one in a 1-0 overtime loss and 1-1 tie with Vermont. UMaine has now been shut out four times this season. “They’re a good team, credit to them,” said UMaine head coach Ben Barr. “There wasn’t much ice out there and we weren’t willing to pay the price to get to their net and find a dirty [goal]. “We’re going to have to learn from it and grow from it and move forward,” added Barr. Junior right wing Tanner Adams’ shorthanded goal midway through the second period off a Josh Nadeau turnover proved to be the game-winner. It was Providence’s first shorthanded goal of the season. Sophomore center Aleksi Kivioja extended the lead with an even-strength goal 7:56 into the third period off an errant pass by Lukas Peterson and junior defenseman Andrew Centrella added a power play goal with 3:49 left in the game after UMaine junior right wing Charlie Russell had been assessed a double minor for tripping and unsportsmanlike conduct. Providence improved to 11-7-2 overall and 6-3-1 in Hockey East while UMaine fell to 12-9-2 and 6-7 after absorbing its second Hockey East sweep of the season. Providence outshot UMaine 32-20. UMaine freshman goalie Mathis Rousseau finished with 29 saves. “We didn’t have much juice tonight,” said Barr. “They outworked us. They won more battles and that was the difference in the game.” Adams’ goal was his fifth of the season. Nadeau skated into the offensive zone but had the puck pokechecked away from him and it went to Adams, who was behind the UMaine defense. He broke in alone down the left wing, cut across the low slot and wristed a 12-footer past Rousseau’s glove. Kivioja made it 2-0 when he intercepted an ill-advised diagonal pass by Peterson in the middle of the high slot, skated in alone on Rousseau and lifted a short backhander past the goalie’s blocker. It was his second goal of the season. Any chance of a UMaine comeback was dashed when Russell took his double minor with just 6:58 left and Centrella capitalized on the power play with his second goal of the campaign. Providence won the special teams battle 2-0 as the Friars had the shorthanded goal and went  1-for-4 on the power play while UMaine went 0-for-2 with the man advantage. Providence had gone 3-for-7 on the power play on Friday night and UMaine went 1-for-6. UMaine will have next weekend off before travelling to UMass Lowell for games on Jan. 23-24 at 7:15 p.m. and 6:05 p.m., respectively. Providence will play a home-and-home series against Boston College next weekend.