The University of Maine’s Black Bear hockey team certainly had some third periods in the first half of their season they would like to replay.

How about the 2-0 lead they squandered in a 3-2 overtime loss to Boston University? Or the late goals they allowed in ties with Sacred Heart and Boston College?

They lead Hockey East in penalty minutes per game (17.75).

On the positive side, they lead Hockey East in goals per game (4.38); are second in power play percentage (22.7 percent success rate) and penalty-killing percentage (85.1 percent) and third in goals-against (2.69).

They are 8-5-3 overall and 4-2-1 in Hockey East play.

“We all hoped for a better start,” said junior left wing Lucas Lawson. “But we’ve only lost one game in the last eight (5-1-2), so there’s no need to panic. We’re going in the right direction. We got off to a slow start last year and picked it up in January when it counted. This team has improved every game.”

Maine was 7-6-4 at the Christmas break last year en route to a 20-12-7 season and an NCAA Tournament berth.

Junior center Robert Liscak said the first half could have been “a lot better.

“But when you look at the circumstances and the way the team is, with a really young defense, it wasn’t bad,” said Liscak. “We definitely lost or tied some games we should have won, maybe due to a lack of experience, bad bounces, bad luck or whatever. I think the second half is going to be much better, as usual.

A primary circumstance the Black Bears were forced to deal with was the death of 18-year head coach Shawn Walsh on Sept. 24 as a result of complications from kidney cancer. He was 46.

Assistant coach Gene Reilly had left the program in August to take an AHL job so former UMass-Lowell head coach Tim Whitehead was contacted by Walsh and became the interim head coach.

Bear senior right wing Niko Dimitrakos said the Bears have shown the ability to handle adversity and are “capable of playing with the best teams in the country.”

Maine has definitely hurt itself with penalties and veterans have been the primary culprits although freshman defenseman Prestin Ryan has taken two potentially costly five-minute majors. The penalty-killers bailed him out.

Whitehead stressed that his team must cut down its penalties “if we’re going to make any noise in the league down the stretch.

“We have to make more sacrifices for the team. We have to play with more purpose. We need more leadership from our upperclassmen,” added Whitehead.

Overall, he feels his team is improving.

“There are a lot of areas we’re excited about. We’re not satisfied with where we are or our results. Our expectations are high. Our team can do more,” said Whitehead.

Here is a breakdown of the Bears with a letter grade:

Forwards: First-year right winger Colin Shields leads the nation with 16 goals and he gives the Bears a bonafide big-time sniper for the first time since the days of Cal Ingraham and Jean-Yves Roy in the early 1990s.

They have four other forwards with six or more goals in Dimitrakos (9), Tommy Reimann (6), Liscak (7) and Michael Schutte (6).

They play on three different lines.

The Lawson-Reimann-Dimitrakos line has 17 goals and 21 assists in 10 games and the Schutte-Marty Kariya-Shields line is equally potent.

Reimann has been hampered by a shoulder injury.

Liscak and Gray Shaneberger have shone as checkers and the return of speedster Todd Jackson is a big lift.

The Bear freshmen forwards have been productive. Ben Murphy has contributed three goals in 11 games.

The forwards have been conscientious defensively, also.

Grade: B-plus

Defensemen: Captain Peter Metcalf has been a steady all-around workhorse and has produced a point per game but must stop taking needless penalties. Rookies Ryan, Matt Deschamps, Paul Lynch and Troy Barnes are improving steadily. Ryan has a great shot and is a real offensive threat but he must control his temper.

Sophomore Francis Nault is another dangerous offensive threat.

Junior Cliff Loya has to stop turning the puck over – two have led to game-winning and game-tying goals – by making simple, safe passes in the defensive zone.

Grade: B

Goaltending: After slow starts which contributed to the team’s problems, seniors Mike Morrison and Matt Yeats have been solid lately. This could be a real strength in the stretch run.

Their rotation is working out well.

Grade- B

Intangibles: The coaching has been good, particularly under the circumstances. The penalty issue has to be handled.

Special teams have been productive although quicker puck movement could help the power play.

Grade: B

Outlook: This could be an NCAA Tournament team but the young defensemen must continue to improve; the goalies must remain consistent and the needless penalties have to stop.