ORONO – It was supposed to be just another game in the learning process for University of Maine freshman backup goalie Matt Lundin as he watched second-team All-America goalie Jimmy Howard man the crease against Hockey East archrival New Hampshire Sunday afternoon.

But when Howard suffered a minor knee injury with 4:16 remaining in the second period and Maine holding a tenuous 1-0 lead, Lundin was called upon.

He responded by stopping all 14 shots he would face as the Black Bears picked up an important 3-0 triumph over the Wildcats.

Maine is now 6-5 overall, 2-2 in Hockey East, while UNH fell to 4-2-1 and 1-1, respectively.

Sophomore right winger Brent Shepheard scored what proved to be the game-winner 8:56 into the game and added an empty-netter with 1:19 remaining. In between, junior right wing Greg Moore converted on the power play 7:15 into the third period.

The Bears are now 6-0-1 in the last seven Alfond Arena meetings between the border rivals.

“Their goalies played well today,” said UNH senior left wing Sean Collins. “When [Lundin] came in, we peppered him because he wasn’t warmed up. But he stood the ground. That’s why they won.”

UNH still had 58 seconds left on a power play when Howard got hurt making a great left pad save off Collins on a 2-on-0 with Preston Callander.

“It’s tough to come into a game with a one-goal lead. But the crowd got behind me right away and was behind me the whole way, which made it real easy on me,” said Lundin, whose parents, Jeff and Kathy, had made the trip from Apple Valley, Minn., to see him and his sophomore brother Mike, who helped anchor the defense corps.

He said facing a power play immediately was good “because it got me into the game right away. It helped me get a quick feel.”

He was forced to make a couple of difficult saves right away and his mates did a good job in front of him.

“The forwards and defensemen came back every time, they played great in the defensive zone and they kept the puck in the offensive zone most of the game which made it easy,” said Lundin.

“It was a difficult situation for him but he came in and he responded. That’s what the team needed. I’m very proud of him,” said Howard, who added that he could have returned to the net if necessary in the third period. Howard stopped all 10 shots he faced.

Shepheard initiated the play that led to his goal by bumping Collins at center ice. The puck squirted loose to Keenan Hopson, who chipped it ahead to Jon Jankus for a two-on-one with Shepheard.

“Jankus made a great pass and I shot it at the net. I think it went five-hole,” said Shepheard.

UNH goalie Jeff Pietrasiak said he was more focused on Jankus.

“When he passed it across, it kind of shocked me. I got over and he seemed to sneak it under me as I went across,” said Pietrasiak.

Howard and Lundin combined for 10 saves in the second period after Maine had outshot UNH 9-4 in the first period.

Moore gave the Bears some welcome breathing room in the third period off a three-on-two with Derek Damon and Billy Ryan.

“Derek made a great play. He put the puck between one of their defenseman’s legs and got a shot onto the goalie’s pads. The rebound came right in the slot to me and I just whacked it toward the net. Originally, I didn’t think it had gone in but then I saw it behind him,” said Moore.

“I saw it for a second, I felt it hit me and I thought I had it,” said Pietrasiak, who turned in an impressive 24-save performance.

Jankus set up Shepheard’s empty-netter by pushing the puck ahead to him.

Maine outshot UNH 15-10 in the third period and just two of the Wildcats’ shots required Grade-A (high-percentage) saves by Lundin.

“We finally played 60 minutes of hockey,” said Moore. “We got a lot of contributions from Lundin and Jimmy and our penalty-killing guys did an awesome job. They had real good hustle and they outworked their power play. A lot of things fell together today.”

UNH’s power play, which was missing defenseman Brian Yandle (7 power-play assists) due to a spearing major and game disqualification against Boston University on Friday, entered the game operating at a lofty 27.1 percent efficiency but went 0-for-5.

Energetic right wing Keith Johnson keyed the penalty killing. Maine has now allowed just one power-play goal in 36 chances over the last six games.

BLACK BEARS 3, WILDCATS 0

New Hampshire (4-2-1) 0 0 0 – 0

Maine (6-5) 1 0 2 – 3

First period – 1. Maine, Shepheard 3 (Jankus, Hopson), 8:56. Penalties: UNH, Radja, hitting from behind, 4:32; Maine, Tyler, obstruction-interference, 11:20; UNH, Ciocco, obstruction-hooking, 19:40

Second period – No scoring. Penalties: UNH, Collins, hooking, 3:55; Maine, Deschamps, hooking, 7:17; Maine, Hamilton, boarding, 14:42; UNH, Ciocco, slashing, 17:59; Maine, Barnes, hitting after whistle, 17:59; UNH, Micflikier, hitting after whistle, 17:59; Maine, Ronan, hitting after whistle, 17:59; UNH, Aikins, tripping and hitting after whistle, 18:18; Maine, Jankus, hitting after whistle, 18:18

Third period – 2. Maine, Moore 6 (Damon, Ryan), 7:15 (pp); 3. Maine, Shepheard 4 (Jankus), 18:41 (en). Penalties: UNH, Teplitsky, contact to head, high-sticking, 6:35; Maine, Damon, obstruction-tripping, 9:11; UNH, Hutchins, holding, 11:47; Maine, Deschamps, interference, 16:33; UNH, Barker, hitting after whistle, 19:53; Maine, Johnson, hitting after whistle, 19:53; UNH, Radja, hitting after whistle, 19:53; Maine, Jankus, hitting after whistle, 19:53; UNH, Hemingway, roughing, 19:53

Shots on goal: UNH 4-10-10-24; Maine 9-3-15-27

Goaltenders: UNH, Pietrasiak (26 shots-24 saves); Maine, Howard (10-10), Ma. Lundin (15:44 of 2nd, 14-14)

Power-play Opportunities: UNH 0 of 5, Maine 1 of 7

High-percentage scoring chances: UNH 8-9-3-20; Maine 6-7-11-24

Attendance: 5,641