Rodrigue powers Bears past Friars

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ORONO – Jacque Rodrigue has known for years that he would play a limited role on the University of Maine hockey team.

The senior defensemen has cracked the Black Bears’ lineup for one reason – his booming shot. And Rodrigue showed what a potent weapon he can be here Friday night.

Rodrigue scored two power-play goals in a span of 2 1/2 minutes in the third period to lift Maine to a 5-4 Hockey East victory over Providence College at Alfond Arena.

“If I get the shot, I’m gonna take it,” Rodrigue said without hestitation. “Most importantly, I’ve got to get it on net. If I get it on net, things happen because there’s always a screen by Dave (MacIsaac) and Shermie (Dan Shermerhorn) in front.”

Former Black Bears captain Jim Montgomery was treated to a standing ovation during a pregame ceremony announcing the retirement of his No. 19 UMaine jersey.

The game itself provided a stark contrast to the Montgomery era, which was marked by explosive and consistent offensive output.

It was Maine’s game to lose against a testy Friar team, but Coach Shawn Walsh’s Bears relied on their special-teams play to keep their unbeaten streak intact. Maine improved to 7-0-3, 4-0-3 in league play. They play again tonight at 7.

Walsh was quick to admit Rodrigue was the difference in the contest.

“Rodrigue’s got a gun,” Walsh said. “He’s probably got the best shot of anybody in this league. He got two more power-play goals, and that’s what it’s all about.”

While Rodrigue’s ice time is limited primarily to the power play and a handful of other shifts, his ability to get the puck on goal sparked Maine’s comeback.

Maine took a short-lived 3-2 lead at 4:33 of the third period when Tim Lovell deflected Reg Cardinal’s 30-footer off the right post and in.

But Providence evened it up when Brady Kramer and Dennis Burke got loose in front and Kramer snapped home a rebound at 5:37. The Friars retook the lead on the power play when Russ Guzior snuck past Jeff Tory and snuck a shot past Bears goaltender Blair Allison at 8:16.

Maine battled back to tie it at the 14:33 mark, when Rodrigue slammed a low shot past Providence goalie Dan Dennis with 5:27 to play.

Then, with Jon Rowe off for interference, it took Maine six seconds to cash in. Lovell won a faceoff back to Tory at the left point and Tory slid a slow pass toward the middle, where Rodrigue rifled a shot over Dennis’ right shoulder with 2:46 left.

“I’ve been looked at for my shot since high school and through Juniors,” Rodrigue said. “I’ve accepted my role. He’s kept me in the lineup and I’m producing. As long as the team’s winning, everybody’s happy.”

Coach Paul Pooley’s Friars (4-4-1, 2-3-1) were able to keep the crowd of 5,248 in check much of the time with their flashes of offensive brilliance.

“Special teams were the difference tonight,” Pooley said. “I wasn’t real happy with the two-goal lead and up here, they’re going to get power-play opportunities, and they did.”

The Bears were in control during a second period that proved the flipside of a shaky first 20 minutes.

Down 2-1, Maine evened things up on a power play. It was a bit flukey, but Chris Imes’ blast from the midpoint ricocheted off the boards and in front of the net to Dennis’ left.

Shermerhorn was on the spot, and one-timed a shot high into the net at 3:52 of the second period.

The Bears even looked good killing off a Providence 5-on-3 advantage that lasted a minute and six seconds. The Friars managed only one shot on goal during the extended power play and that one hit the post.

Maine outshot Providence 13-4 in the period.

The Bears had gotten off to a shaky start as Providence jumped and bumped the Bears early in the first period.

The Friars too a quick 1-0 lead on a power play with 2:26 gone. George Breen backhanded the rebound of Brady Kramer’s shot from the right point under Allison’s right arm.

Four minutes later, Providence struck again. This time, Joe Hulbig moved in down the left side, shrugged off Maine defenseman Imes and slipped a low shot through the legs of Allison, who was backing into the net.

Maine got on the board, on the power play, halfway through the period. Shawn Wansborough alertly picked up the rebound of Tory’s midpoint shot and backhanded it high over Dennis’ glove hand.

The goal gave the Bears a needed lift, and the hosts showed more life but couldn’t tie it up in the first.

Bears 5, Friars 4

(Friday Night)

Providence 2 0 2 – 4 Maine 1 1 3 – 5

First Period – 1. Providence, Breen 2 (Kramer, Quenneville), 2:26; 2. Providence, Hulbig 3 (Kramer, Quenneville), 6:27; 3. Maine, Wansborough 3 (Tory), 10:35; Penalties – Maine, Mahoney, boarding, 2:30; Providence, Dillabough, roughing, 7:31; Providence, Brannare, interference, 10:20; Providence, Burke, boarding, 17:42

Second Period – 4. Maine, Shermerhorn 5 (Imes, Tory), 5:45; Penalties – Providence, Sousa, holding, 3:52; Providence, Sousa, interference, 9:52; Maine, MacIsaac, tripping, 12:06; Maine, Cardinal, interference, 13:00; Maine, Parmentier, hooking, 16:39; Maine, Frenette, roughing, 20:00; Providence, Hulbig, roughing, 20:00

Third period – 5. Maine, Lovell 4 (Cardinal), 4:33; 6. Providence, Kramer 8 (Burke, Rowe), 5:37; 7. Providence, Guzior 1 (Gould), 8:16; 8. Maine, Rodrigue 5 (Wansborough, Imes), 14:33; 9. Maine, Rodrigue 6 (Tory, Lovell), 17:14; Penalties – Maine, Lovell, hooking, 6:35; Providence, Gould, 9:30; Providence, Rowe, interference, 17:08; Maine, Cardinal, holding, 17:39

Shots on goal: Providence 10-4-6–20; Maine 9-13-10–32

Goaltenders: Providence, Dan Dennis; Maine, Blair Allison