Northeastern scored two goals in the third period to get back within a goal but couldn't tie it as No. 13 Maine beat the Huskies, 4-3, on Saturday night at Matthews Arena. Northeastern freshman Tyler McNeely scored his first collegiate goal and Randy Guzior and Joe Vitale each scored.
It was the second one-goal win in two nights for Maine, which beat Northeastern in the series opener, 3-2, on Friday night at Matthews Arena. Northeastern dropped to 1-3-0 overall and 1-2-0 in Hockey East with the loss while Maine improved to 4-2-0 overall and 2-0-0 in Hockey East.
Maine opened the scoring at 1:11 in the second period. After a faceoff in the Northeastern zone, Maine's Chris Hahn shot the puck into traffic in front of the net. It hit a Northeastern defenseman's skate and into the net.
With Northeastern's Dennis McCauley in the penalty box for slashing and Maine's Josh Van Dyke serving the team penalty for too many men, Maine's Jeff Dimmen scored on the rebound of a Bret Tyler shot to put the Black Bears ahead, 2-0, at 9:08 in the second. Maine was able to add a short-handed tally at 11:49 in the second. Keenan Hopson caused a turnover in the neutral zone, passed it to Vince Laise, who shot it, and Hopson put in the rebound.
McNeely finally got the Huskies on the board with his first collegiate goal at 12:56 in the second period. Wade MacLeod got the puck to Vitale and Vitale came around from behind the net to get a shot on Maine goalie Ben Bishop. The puck came loose and McNeely put it away to make it 3-1.
Laise scored a goal of his own when he potted the rebound of a Wes Clark shot at 6:33 in the third period. The Huskies then began to mount a comeback.
With Northeastern already on a power play, Maine was called for a delayed penalty, giving the Huskies a 6-on-4 advantage. Drew Muench passed the puck from the left point to David Strathman on the right point. Strathman sent it to Guzior, who took a shot, collected his own rebound, then fired one past Bishop to make it 4-2 at 8:27 in the third period.
Vitale scored at 17:09 in the third period to get the Huskies within a goal. MacLeod passed the puck from behind the net to Vitale, who was open in front, and Vitale shot it over Bishop's shoulder.
Northeastern put a shooting gallery in the final minutes and pulled Thiessen for the final 40 seconds but couldn't get the tying goal. The Huskies outshot Maine, 14-4, in the third period and 34-29 in the game.
Next weekend the Huskies have a home-and-home series with New Hampshire beginning Friday night at Matthews Arena at 7 p.m. and concluding at the Whittemore Center on Saturday. Both games will be broadcast on 890 ESPN Boston and WRBB Radio and Friday's game will be on live web video on GoNU.TV.