Lundin goal lifts UMaine by Huskies NU goalie Gibson makes 25 saves; Howard has 15

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ORONO – Scoring chances were few and far between during Friday night’s Hockey East game between the University of Maine and the Northeastern University Huskies.

But, as often happens in low-scoring hockey games, an unexpected source decided it

Black Bear sophomore defenseman Mike Lundin’s first goal of the season, coming with 5:23 left in regulation, gave the Black Bears a 1-0 victory over the Huskies at Alfond Arena.

Maine is now 14-8-5 overall, 9-3-3 in Hockey East, while Northeastern fell to 9-13-3 and 5-8-2 respectively.

The teams will play again tonight at 7.

Maine had a clear territorial edge but the Huskies turned in an exceptional defensive performance.

The Huskies gave the Bears little skating room and always had a protective bubble of players in front of standout senior goalie Keni Gibson, who finished with 25 saves.

Maine also turned in an outstanding defensive game particularly against the high-powered line of Jason Guerriero between Mike Morris and Jared Mudryk, who have combined for 65 points this season.

The Bears limited that line to three shots on goal. Maine has allowed seven goals in its last six games.

Maine’s Jimmy Howard wasn’t as busy as Gibson but made six of his 15 saves in the final five minutes to preserve the win and his fifth shutout of the season. It was his school-record 14th career shutout.

Lundin’s goal, his first since a 1-0 win over Alabama-Huntsville on Feb. 6, 2004, came on a wraparound after his initial shot from the top of the left circle deflected back to him.

“Murph [center Ben Murphy] tied up one of their guys in the slot so I picked up the puck and circled the net,” said Lundin, who came out to Gibson’s left.

“I was looking to pass it but their goalie hadn’t gotten over [to the short side] and one of their guys was coming over to me so I just tried to put it on net,” said Lundin.

Gibson said he got tangled up with a Maine player and one of his NU defensemen in front and “I lost my balance and fell.

“I tried to cover the low side and I felt the puck hit my left pad,” said Gibson.

Northeastern, which had generated only one shot on goal in the period and nine in the game when Lundin scored, pressed for the equalizer and tested Howard with a couple of flurries.

Mike Morris, who shares the team lead in goals with 11, was set up nicely in front only to have Howard rob him.

“He chipped the puck over my stick and it went five-hole. So I dropped back and covered it,” said Howard, who actually laid on the puck.

The Bears killed off an NU power play when Derek Damon was whistled for obstruction-interference with 2:31 left.

“When you have Gibson and Howard in goal, you aren’t going to see a lot of goals,” said Maine coach Tim Whitehead. “Northeastern played very well. They kept our shots to the perimeter.”

He said Lundin showed great poise on his goal.

NU coach Bruce Crowder said he had “no complaints” with the way his team played other than “we didn’t generate many chances. We were looking for the perfect goal.”

NU’s best scoring chance came in the first period when Mudryk hit the post with a slap shot from the top of the left circle.

“It deflected off Steve Mullin and hit the near side post,” said Howard.

Brent Shepheard had one of Maine’s best chances in the second period when the puck bounced onto his stick just beyond the top of the crease. But Gibson held his position and absorbed the 10-foot wrister in his pads.

Maine’s Mat Deschamps dove headfirst to poke a pass away on a promising two-on-one.

Maine attempted 60 shots to NU’s 28.

Maine has won the last eight games between the two at the Alfond Arena and Maine is 6-0-2 in its last eight Alfond games this season.

BLACK BEARS 1, HUSKIES 0

Northeastern (9-13-3) 0 0 0 – 0

Maine (14-8-5) 0 0 1 – 1

First period – No scoring; Penalties: NU, Awe, obstruction-interference, 6:52; NU, Sanders, obstruction-interference, 13:13

Second period – No scoring; Penalties: Maine, Leveille, hooking, 7:08; NU, Judy, tripping, 8:59

Third period – 1. Maine, Mi. Lundin 1 (Deschamps, Murphy), 14:37; Penalties: NU, Lewis, hooking, 9:58; Maine, Damon, obstruction (interference), 17:29

Shots on goal: NU 7-1-7-15; Maine 11-8-7-26

Goaltenders: NU, Gibson (26 shots-25 saves); Maine, Howard (15-15)

Power-play opportunities: NU 0 of 2; Maine 0 of 4

High-percentage scoring chances: NU 2-1-3-6; Maine 3-5-3-11

Attendance: 5,491