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ORONO – It was a struggle but the University of Maine Black Bears received a clutch second-period save from Alfie Michaud, and an important third-period goal from Cory Larose to beat the youthful UMass Minutemen 3-1 in the first game of their best-of-three Hockey East quarterfinal series Thursday night.
Second-seed Maine is now 26-5-4 entering Friday’s 7 p.m. game at Alfond Arena. UMass, which skated 14 freshmen and sophomores, is 12-20-2.
Maine’s Dan Kerluke scored the only goal of the first period before Bobby Stewart scored what proved to be the game-winner 37 seconds into the second period while the Bears were shorthanded.
Jeff Blanchard answered Stewart’s goal 59 seconds later and had a breakaway with 38 seconds remaining in the period only to have Michaud make the save to preserve the one-goal lead.
Larose was set up by Steve Kariya 3:32 into the third period and the Bears thoroughly stifled the Minutemen over the final 20 minutes, allowing just two shots on goal and seven attempts.
Larose’s goal developed out of a two-on-two.
“One of their defensemen stepped up on me and I put the puck through his legs and got around him. Then the other guy jumped me, Cory yelled for the puck and I got it to him. He made a great shot,” said Kariya.
Larose said, “I just released it and it went over [UMass goalie Markus Helanen’s] glove. Stevie and I had a little extra jump in our legs at the start of the third period.”
Helanen said Larose’s shot “went through one of our defensemen’s legs” before sailing over his glove.
Maine coach Shawn Walsh said his team played a “great” third period by keeping things simple and not trying to force offense.
However, he said the turning point in the game was Michaud’s save off Blanchard.
“That was a huge play,” said Walsh.
Blanchard had a couple of steps on the nearest Maine pursuer as he accelerated down the left wing.
“I tried to go upstairs on him but he got his shoulder on it. I thought I had a little room up there but he took it away. He made a good save,” said Blanchard.
Michaud said he wanted to let Blanchard make his move first.
“I tried to be patient and I was able to make the save,” said Michaud.
Kerluke opened the scoring 5:23 into the game when he gathered in the puck along the left-wing boards and decided to take a slap shot that glanced off Helanen’s goal stick into the short side.
“I didn’t see him release the shot,” said Helanen.
Maine outshot UMass 19-6 in the first period but Helanen was exceptional.
Stewart’s early second-period goal came off a three-on-one with Marcus Gustafsson and David Cullen. Stewart carried the puck down the left wing and faked a couple of shots.
“I wanted to pass it to Marcus because he’s a good shooter. Then I saw Helanen freeze and stand straight up so I put it low to the blocker [short] side,” said Stewart, who leads the Bears with three shorthanded points including two goals.
Blanchard answered with a rising 30-foot slap shot that handcuffed Michaud and beat him to the glove (short) side.
UMass began controlling play and creating chances out of Maine turnovers caused by UMass’ neutral zone trap. Michaud made 12 saves in that second period compared to Helanen’s eight.
“Our defensemen were overhandling the puck,” said Walsh, who called the game a good playoff win especially considering that his team ran into a “hot goalie.”
UMass coach Joe Mallen, whose team was outshot 43-21, said his club played a “real good road game” but it has to cut down the number of shots it allows.
Black Bears 3, Minutemen 1
UMass (12-20-2) 0 1 0 – 1 Maine (26-5-4) 1 1 1 – 3
First period – 1. Maine, Kerluke (Heisten), 5:23. Penalties: Maine, Dimitrakos, too many men on the ice, 2:27; UMass, Turner, interference, 2:59; Maine, Walsh, highsticking, 8:32; UMass, Gates, interference, 13:34; UMass, Crumb, too many men on the ice, 16:10; UMass, Brannen, roughing, 18:53; Maine, Dimitrakos, double minor roughing, 18:53
Second period – 2. Maine, Stewart, :37 sh; 3. UMass, Blanchard (Soderholm), 1:36. Penalties: UMass, Culgin, holding, 3:59; Maine, Ek, interference, 6:13; Maine, Larose, highsticking, 15:45; UMass, Soderholm, highsticking, 15:45; UMass, Sell, interference, 17:37
Third period – 4. Maine, Larose (Kariya), 3:32. Penalties: UMass, Brannen, slashing, 8:03; Maine, Dimitrakos, slashing, 8:03; UMass, Drohan, hooking, 12:04; Maine, Janik, roughing, 17:41; UMass, Gates, double minor roughing, 17:41; UMass, Sell, roughing, 17:46
Shots on goal: UMass 6-13-2-21; Maine 19-9-15-43
High-percentage scoring chances: UMass 1-8-0-9; Maine 11-8-10-29
Power-play opportunities: UMass 0 of 4; Maine 0 of 8
Goaltenders: UMass, Helanen (43 shots-40 saves); Maine, Michaud (21-20)
Attendance: 3,220
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