ORONO – Alfie Michaud was transformed into a long reliever par excellence. Shawn Walsh took on the role of cheerleader. And Doug Janik became a goal scorer for the first time in his college career.

The result was the University of Maine’s come-from-behind 3-2 Hockey East win over Providence College Saturday night at an electrified Alfond Arena.

The triumph completed a Maine sweep and gave the Bears a 7-1-1 record, 4-1-1 in Hockey East. Providence fell to 5-5, 3-3.

Mike Omicioli’s 20-foot power play wrist shot and Rich Miller’s deflected point shot staked PC to a 2-0 first-period lead.

Junior goalie Michaud replaced freshman Mike Morrison at the outset of the second period and stopped all 18 shots he was to face, includingsecond period and stopped all 18 shots he was to face, including a Doug Sheppard breakaway with 1:55 remaining in the second period.

Bears coach Walsh demonstratively exhorted the crowd into a frenzy in the second period and the Bears promptly responded with three goals in a span of 3:46.

Janik’s power-play one-timer from the right point 8:46 into the period triggered the flurry and further ignited the 5,379 in attendance. It was the freshman defenseman’s first goal.

Brendan Walsh tied the game 2:35 later and Ben Guite scored the game-winner only 1:11 after that. It was his first of the season but his seventh in eight career games against Providence.

“Michaud came in and kind of made the difference,” said Providence goalie Mark Kane, who turned in a solid 26-save performance.

Friars senior center Troy Lake said Michaud had a “great weekend. He was tough to beat. A lot of shots hit him in the stomach and chest, meaning he played his angles well. He made some saves that left us shaking our heads.”

Michaud had made 24 stops in Friday night’s 6-1 win.

Kane said Maine’s crowd was like having a “sixth man.

“When Walsh got them going, it was pretty crazy out there. I couldn’t even talk to my defensemen, it was so loud,” said Kane.

Walsh said, “We’ll do anything it takes to win. We needed to change the complexion of the game.”

Michaud, who made seven Grade-A saves, called it a “great team win.

“I felt good out there. I felt relaxed. I just went out and had some fun,” said Michaud. “The team played real well. I’ve been working really hard in practice and when you work hard, good things come to you.”

On Sheppard’s breakaway, Michaud said, “I just got out and challenged. He showed shot all the way. I stacked the pads. He had to get it up if he was going to score and, fortunately enough, I got it in the glove.”

Janik’s goal came off a point-to-point pass from Dan Kerluke.

“He made a nice pass and I got most of it, not all of it. I got just enough to get it by the screen and past the goalie,” said Janik. “I was just happy to get a goal for the team and help get us going.”

Kane said the never saw the shot.

Walsh scored with a quick wrist shot through Kane’s pads from the bottom of the right faceoff circle. Anders Lundback had given him the pass.

“I just tried to release it quickly,” said Walsh.

Kane said, “I got a piece of my stick on it. It was a quick shot.”

Guite’s game-winner resulted from a neutral-zone turnover and Lundback sent him in down the left wing on a two-on-one with Niko Dimitrakos.

“I went to pass it to Niko but the defenseman backed up, so I had the shot. I almost shot it with my eyes closed. I just saw the corner and said I’ve got to rip it. I got lucky,” said Guite, who beat Kane low and to the far side.

Black Bears 3, Friars 2

Providence (5-5) 2 0 0 – 2 Maine (7-1-1) 0 3 0 – 3

First period – 1. Prov., Omicelli 6 (Pisani, Ialongo), 15:19, pp.; 2. Prov., Miller (Leach, Gordon), 17:23; Penalties: Prov., Farrell, interference, 12:08; Maine, Lundback, interference, 15:12; Prov., Dean, holding stick, 19:48

Second period – 3. Maine, Janik (Kerluke, Guite), 8:46, pp.; 4. Maine, Walsh (Lundback), 11:21; 5. Maine, Guite (Dimitrakos, Lundback), 12:32; Penalties: Prov., Cameron, interference, 2:25; Prov., Farrell, tripping, 3:08; Maine, Heisten, elbowing, 4:51; Prov., Gordon, hooking, 7:00; Prov., Farrell, roughing, 10:11; Maine, Vitorino, roughing, 10:11; Maine, Cullen, high-sticking, 12:53; Prov., Omicioli, slashing, 13:31; Maine, Walsh, high-sticking, 15:08; Maine, Heisten, high-sticking, 15:31

Third period – no scoring. Penalties: Maine, Stewart, holding, 6:02; Prov., Bench (served by Lent), too many men on the ice, 17:32

Shots on goal: Maine 10-14-6 – 30; Providence 5-11-7 – 23

High-percentage scoring chances: Maine 4-11-5 – 20; Providence 4-6-2 – 12

Power-play opportunites: Maine 1 of 7; Providence 1 of 6

Goaltenders: Maine, Morrison (5 saves, 3 shots), Michaud, 0:00 of second period, (18-18); Providence, Kane (30-27)