Black Bears rebound

Joey Diamond (Long Beach, N.Y.) broke a 2-2 tie midway through the third period and Gustav Nyquist (Malmo, Sweden) iced the game with an empty-net goal as the University of Maine men’s ice hockey team skated to a 4-2 win over Vermont on Saturday night at Alfond Arena. Maine improves to 12-10-6 on the season and 9-8-4 in Hockey East play. Vermont falls to 7-16-5 overall and 5-12-4 in conference play.

Nyquist set a school record when he got the puck from Tanner House (Cochrane, Alberta) and fired a shot past Vermont goalie Rob Madore on the opening face-off, just six seconds into the game. It bested the previous record of eight seconds that Bruce Major set against Northern Michigan on Nov. 16, 1985.

Maine was then whistled for two quick penalties and UVM reaped the reward of a five-on-three goal. Sebastian Stalberg beat Maine goalie Shawn Sirman (Blezard Valley, Ontario) with a shot that found the upper right corner of the goal at just 1:39 of
the first. Jack Downing and Chris McCarthy each assisted on the goal. The Catamounts took a 2-1 lead when Downing tipped a McCarthy shot from the blueline past Sirman on the power play at 15:25 of the first. Josh Burrows picked up an assist on the goal.

Maine tied the game with a power play goal at 13:52 of the second period. Spencer Abbott (Hamilton, Ontario) had a shot from the point that Madore stopped, but the rebound when right to Brian Flynn (Lynnfield, Mass.) who was alone just outside the
crease. Flynn easily beat Madore for his 14th goal of the season. Nyquist also picked up an assist on the play.

Maine notched the game-winner at 12:38 of the third period. Robby Dee (Plymouth, Minn.) won the puck to Will O’Neill (Salem, Mass.). O’Neill fired the puck down the ice and Diamond controlled it behind the net. He then carried the puck around the
net and beat Madore for his 10th goal of the season.

Nyquist added an empty-net unassisted score with just 22 seconds remaining to ice the game for the Black Bears. For Nyquist, it was his fourth straight game with a goal and 13th of the season.

Maine outshot Vermont 39-19 in the game. The Black Bears were 1-for-8 on the power play, while Vermont finished 2-for-7.

Shawn Sirman made 17 saves in goal and improves to 4-2-3 on the season. Madore made 35 saves. He falls to 7-16-5.

The Black Bears return to action on Friday, Feb. 18 when they travel to UMass Lowell. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 PM.

--BLACK BEARS COMMUNICATIONS--