NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. - The University of Maine men's hockey team topped Merrimack, 2-1, in its Hockey East opener on Friday night at Lawler Rink.
After a scoreless first period, Lynden Breen scored one minute into the second for the 1-0 lead. Josh Nadeau picked off a pass and fed Breen up the middle for a short breakaway.
Maine took a 2-0 lead in the third period after Breen pressured Merrimack into a turnover and then Josh Nadeau set up Bradly Nadeau for a one-timer from the left circle.
Merrimack pulled a goal back - converting during a 6-on-4 advantage - but Victor Ostman shut the door for the final 51 seconds to pick up the Hockey East victory.
#20/20 Maine 2, #RV/20 Merrimack 1
Nov. 3, 2023 | North Andover, Mass.
Lawler Rink
NOTABLES
- Merrimack had the 26-22 lead in shots on goal.
- The Black Bears were 0-for-1 on the power play while Merrimack was 1-for-2.
- Victor Ostman finished with 25 saves in moving to 4-1-0 on the year ... Hugo Ollas stopped 20 shots for the Warriors.
- Josh Nadeau finished with two assists for his second multi-assist game of the season ... he now has a team-high four assists.
- Lynden Breen scored his second goal of the season while Bradly Nadeau potted his team-leading third of the year.
- The Black Bears are now 78-25-11 all-time against Merrimack ... Maine is 4-5-0 under head coach Ben Barr.
- This was the first win for Maine in the Hockey East opener since the 2017-18 season.
- At 4-1-0, the Black Bears are now off to their best start since the 2006-07 season.
RECORDS
Maine: 4-1-0, 1-0-0 Hockey East
Merrimack: 3-3-0, 1-1-0 Hockey East
UP NEXT
Maine and Merrimack will close out the weekend series tomorrow night with another 7 p.m. puck drop at Lawler Rink.
