ORONO, Me. - Tim Doherty and Eduards Tralmaks each tallied a pair of goals as five different Black Bears found the back of the net in Maine's 7-1, regular season home opener victory over Alaska Anchorage on Friday evening.
Tralmaks racked up a four point night with a pair of goals and two assists while Emil Westerlund recorded three assists to help lead the scoring attack as the Black Bears tallied seven goals for the first time since a 7-2 victory on Jan. 16, 2019 at Boston College.
Jeremy Swayman picked up his first victory of the season, making 20 saves in net, including nine second period stops.
The Black Bears dominated much of the action, holding a 38-21 edge in shots while going 2-for-7 on the man advantage, both goals coming in the third period, and shutting down each of the two Seawolf power play chances.
The Black Bears wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, scoring on each of their first two shots.
Only 1:14 into the first period, JD Greenway put the Black Bears on top with his first career goal. Greenway controlled the puck through the slot before sifting a backhand shot over the Seawolf goaltender.
Just over three minutes later, Tim Doherty found the back of the net, giving Maine an early 2-0 advantage. Jakub Sirota's initial shot sailed wide into the corner where Emil Westerlund dug it out of the boards and along to Doherty. Doherty carried to the near faceoff dot before wrisitng a shot through a crowd and o ver Kristian Stead's glove.
The Seawolves cut the lead in half midway through the first when Alex Frye's shot ricocheted off a Maine defender, changing direction before floating past Swayman.
Maine regained its two goal advantage early in the second on Tralmaks' 20th career goal. Greenway began the play with a pass behind the net and out to the point where Cameron Spicer rifled a one-timer at the net. Tralmaks was able to tip the puck in front, redirecting it into the back of the net for Maine's third tally of the night.
The Black Bears extended the lead to 4-1 halfway through the second on Simon Butala's first career goal. Maine broke into the zone on a 3-on-2. Ryan Smith carried the puck through the right faceoff circle before sending a no-look, behind the back pass over to Butala. Butala collected the puck off his right skate before depositing Maine's fourth goal into the back of the net.
With 1:27 left in the second, the Black Bears won the draw in the Seawolf zone before Fossier snuck a shot from below the faceoff dot. Tralmaks, set up on the short side post, was able to tip the puck around the goaltender for Maine's third goal of the period.
Maine's first of two, third period power play goals came with 15:07 left in regulation. Doherty entered the zone by sliding a pass across the blue line to Westerlund. Westerlund carried the puck along the left side boards before finding Daw in the slot for the goal.
Doherty's second goal of the night came just over two minutes after Dawe found the back of the net. With Maine back on the man advantage, Veli-Matti Tiuraniemi flicked a pass from the right faceoff dot to Dawe in the slot. Dawe chipped the pass over to Doherty who wristed the puck across the goal line.
Maine and Alaska Anchorage close the weekend series on Saturday with the finale set for a 7 p.m. puck drop.
