UMaine goes 0-fer on power play, knots Terriers

The University of Maine men’s ice hockey team skated to a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Boston University on Saturday night in front of 5,350 fans at Alfond Arena. Will O’Neill (Salem, Mass.) and Joe Pereira scored first period goals and
the goalie stole the show the remainder of the night. Maine moves to 11-7-6 on the season and 8-5-4 in Hockey East play. Boston University sees it record go to 12-7-7, 9-5-5 in conference play.

Maine wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. Tanner House (Cochrane, Alberta) battled to get the puck to Brian Flynn (Lynnfield, Mass.). Flynn and a BU defender both pursued the puck, but Flynn was able to get it to Will O’Neill on the blueline.
He fired the first shot of the game past BU goalie Kieran Millan just 21 seconds in. For O’Neill, it was his second goal of the season.

Minutes later on the power play, Maine tried to make a pass on the blueline that Boston University’s Chris Connolly picked off. He skated in on Maine goalie Martin Ouellette (St.-Hippolyte, Quebec) on a two-on-none breakaway. Connolly slide the puck
to Joe Pereira who beat Ouellette. For Periera, it was his 11th goal of the season.

Maine had a commanding 20-2 edge in shots on goal in the first period and finished the game with a 42-20 advantage. Maine goalie Martin Ouellette and BU netminder Kieran Millan each made some outstanding saves in the game. Ouellette finished with 19
saves and moves to 3-2-2 on the season. Millan made 41 saves and moves to 9-5-7.

Maine finished the game 0-for-7 on the power play, while BU was scoreless on five chances. The Black Bears were able to kill off a five minute penalty, including nearly a two-minute five-on-three. Maine held BU scoreless in 11 power play
opportunities on the weekend.

Saturday marked the 100th career game for Maine junior Spencer Abbott (Hamilton, Ontario). Flynn, who played in his 100th career game for Maine on Friday night, played in his 100th consecutive game on Saturday night.

The Black Bears return to action on Friday, Feb. 4 when they face off against the University of New Hampshire, for a two game series in Durham, N.H. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 PM and the game can be seen on NESN.