GRAND FORKS, N.D. - The #17 University of Maine men's ice hockey team skated to a 3-3 draw with sixth-ranked North Dakota on Saturday night at Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, N.D. Seniors Brian Flynn (Lynnfield, Mass.), Will O'Neill (Salem, Mass.) and Ryan Hegarty (Arlington, Mass.) all tallied goals for the Black Bears. Maine moves to 1-2-1 on the season, while North Dakota sees its record move to 2-1-1.
Maine got the first goal of the game when Brian Flynn scored on the power play. Spencer Abbott (Hamilton, Ontario) got the puck to Will O'Neill just inside the blue line. He found Flynn streaking through the circle and fired a perfect pass to him. Flynn one-time the puck past North Dakota goalie Aaron Dell at 4:02 of the first period. For Flynn, it was his second goal of the season.
Maine extended its lead to 2-0 just 46 seconds into the second period. Abbott began the play with a drop pass to Kyle Beattie (Avondale, Ariz.) on the blueline. Beattie skated a few strikes and found O'Neill in the right face-off circle. He fired a wrist shot past Dell for his first goal of the season.
North Dakota got on the board at 4:15 of the second period with a five-on-three goal. Nick Mattson wristed a shot from the top of the circle past Maine goalie Dan Sullivan (York, Pa.). Danny Kristo and Brock Nelson each assisted on the goal.
North Dakota tied the game at 2-2 at 5:27 when Kristo scored on a slap shot with a five-on-three advantage. Kristo scored his second of the period at 17:25 to give the Fighting Sioux their first lead of the game. His slap shot from just inside the blueline beat Maine goalie Sullivan five hole. Corban Knight and Carter Rowney each assisted on the goal. All three of North Dakota's goals in the second period came via the power play.
Maine finished with a 20-18 edge in shots on goal after two periods of play.
Maine tied the game at 12:18 of the third period when Ryan Hegarty tipped an Abbott shot past Dell on the power play from the slot. For Hegarty, it was his first goal of the season. Flynn also assisted on the goal for the Black Bears.
Sullivan made 24 saves in goal for the Black Bears. He moves to 1-0-1 on the season.
Dell stopped 25 shots for North Dakota. He sees his record move to 1-1-1.
Maine was 2-for-4 on the power play, while North Dakota was 3-for-5. Maine outshot North Dakota 28-27 in the game.
Maine has next weekend off, before returning to play on Friday, Oct. 28 when it hosts Providence for a Hockey East series Puck drop is scheduled for 7 PM.