Friars outplay UMaine Black Bears suffer third straight loss

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Providence College Friars have been one of the surprise teams in Hockey East this season and they showed why Friday night.

The Friars completely outworked and outhustled the the University of Maine Black Bears in the second period, using two goals from senior left wing Torry Gajda to build a 3-1 lead and then hung on for a 4-2 victory at the Schneider Arena.

Providence snapped a two-game losing streak and a three-game winless streak while improving to 7-6-1 overall, 7-2-1 in Hockey East. The Friars entered the game tied with New Hampshire atop the Hockey East standings.

It is Providence’s best start in Hockey East since 1995-96 and the win was its first over a ranked opponent this season. Providence had been 0-2-1 against ranked teams before beating the seventh-ranked Bears.

Maine suffered its third straight loss, scoring just five goals in those losses. The Bears are 9-5 overall, 4-4 in Hockey East.

Kyle Laughlin opened the scoring for the Friars 16:28 into the first period but Maine answered with a five-on-three goal from Billy Ryan 1:56 later.

Gajda’s shorthanded goal 5:11 into the second period gave the Friars the lead for good and Gajda expanded the lead 9:30 later.

Jamie Carroll’s power-play goal 2:32 into the third period gave Providence at 4-1 lead.

The Bears played with urgency and determination in the third period and were rewarded with a John Hopson goal with 6:37 remaining.

But it was too little, too late.

“The effort just wasn’t there,” said Maine senior right wing and captain Greg Moore. “I don’t know what the answer is. We can’t keep waiting until we get behind to start playing. We’ve got to play a full 60 minutes.”

Maine junior left wing Josh Soares said, “They outworked us in the second period. That shorthanded goal gave them momentum and they caught us on a [line] change for the next one.”

Gajda’s shorthanded goal came off a turnover as he stole the puck from Maine’s Mike Lundin in the neutral zone and broke in on a two-on-oh with Tony Zancanaro.

“I faked the pass and he [Maine freshman goalie Ben Bishop] bit on it,” said Gajda who tucked the puck between Bishop’s left skate and the post.

The Friars rode that momentum throughout the period but Bishop was able to keep the Bears close.

Gajda made it 3-1 just 11 seconds after coming out of the penalty box as the Friars caught the Bears in a line change.

“I yelled for the puck and Dinos Stamoulis chipped it out of the zone to me,” said Gajda, who had a three-on-one with Jon Rheault and Chase Watson.

“I took a shot and Jon and Chase had whacks at it. There were three or four rebounds before I finally put it in,” said Gajda.

Maine was lethargic and sloppy in the second period and the quick and tenacious Friars took full advantage, outshooting Maine 15-7 while building their lead.

Maine’s Rob Bellamy had a chance to slice into the lead with a shorthanded bid early in the third period but elected to shoot on a two-on-one instead of pass and Sims made a routine short-side chest save that set the play in motion, resulting in Carroll’s power-play goal.

Carroll alertly followed a rush by Colin McDonald, whose slapper from the top of the circle rang off the crossbar.

“Half the building thought it went in and half thought it didn’t,” said Carroll. “The puck came to me and I had an open net. So I just made sure.”

The Bears started playing the body all over the ice and their physicality resulted in scoring chances.

Providence’s Tyler Sims made a number of important saves until John Hopson converted off a pass from brother Keenan. John Hopson’s quick snap shot from the slot sailed over Sims’ glove.

Maine stormed the net looking to pull within one but, again, Sims made the saves necessary to keep the Bears at bay.

Sims finished with 20 third-period saves to give him 36 for the game.

Laughlin opened the scoring with a wraparound between Bishop’s pads as he came out from behind the net to the goalie’s right.

Maine equalized with a beautiful passing sequence as Mike Lundin passed it from the point to the left post to John Hopson and he quickly snapped it across the goalmouth to Ryan for a tap-in.

Providence had 41 shots to Maine’s 38 as Lundin stopped all 10 shots he faced.

“I thought we dominated the game five-on-five,” said Sims. “We showed them we were the better team.”

FRIARS 4, BLACK BEARS 2

Maine (9-5-0) 1 0 1 – 2

Providence (7-6-1) 1 2 1 – 4

First period – 1. PC, Laughlin 3 (Zancanaro), 16:28; 2. Maine, Ryan 4 (J. Hopson, Mi. Lundin), 18:24 (pp). Penalties: PC, McDonald, hooking, 4:08; PC, Norton, cross-checking, 10:20; PC, Mazzolini, hooking, 17:02; PC, Wild, cross-checking, 18:00.

Second period – 3. PC, Gajda 7 (unassisted), 5:11 (sh); 4. PC, Gajda 8 (Rheault, Watson), 14:41. Penalties: Maine, Mi. Lundin, hooking, 1:03; PC, Meyers, contact to the head-elbowing, 4:44; Maine, Mullin, tripping, 8:16; PC, Gajda, holding the stick, 12:30; Maine, Jankus, high sticking, 14:48; PC, Mazzolini, cross checking, 17:35.

Third period – 5. PC, Carroll 3 (McDonald, Watson), 2:32; 6. Maine, J. Hopson 3 (K. Hopson, Ryan), 13:23. Penalties: Maine, Jankus, cross checking, 1:19; Maine, Laise, hooking, 8:54; PC, Meyers, goaltender interference, 11:17; Maine, Tyler, hooking, 18:01.

Shots on goal: Maine 10-7-21-28; Providence 12-15-14-41

Goaltenders: Maine, Bishop (31 shots-27 saves), Maine, Ma. Lundin (10-10); Providence, Sims (38-36)

Power-play opportunities: Maine 1 of 8; Providence 1 of 6

High-percentage scoring chances: Maine 6-4-12-22; Providence 7-8-5-20

Attendance: 2,856