PORTLAND – The University of Maine Black Bears appeared to be in a world of trouble with 14:24 remaining in the third period of their men’s hockey game against Brown at the Cumberland County Civic Center Wednesday night.

Maine was trailing 1-0 and Maine senior right wing and captain Greg Moore had just been assessed a five-minute major and game misconduct for hitting from behind.

But the Bears, the nation’s top penalty-killing team, killed off the penalty and received goals 4:20 apart from Rob Bellamy and John Hopson to pull out a 2-1 victory that snapped their three-game losing streak.

Maine improved to 10-5 while Brown fell to 2-8-1 and saw its winless skein extended to seven games (0-6-1).

Sophomore goalie Matt Lundin was superb, making 28 saves including 13 of his 16 Grade-A [high-percentage] stops over the first two periods.

Bellamy scored 28 seconds after Maine killed the five-minute disadvantage. He finished off a sustained forecheck involving linemates Derek Damon and Keith Johnson.

“I gave the puck to Derek and he gave it right back to me,” said Bellamy. “I touched it over to Keith and he took a shot which came out the other side to me. I redirected it toward the net and it glanced in off the goalie’s [Kevin Kliman] skate.”

The combination of the penalty kill and Bellamy’s goal also brought the 6,661 Maine partisans to life.

“They fed off the crowd after that,” said Brown senior center and captain Joe Bauer. “That changed the momentum.”

Hopson scored the game-winner with 4:36 left, right after he came out of the penalty box.

Damon fed a pass off the boards to Hopson who broke in alone on Kliman.

“I heard John holler. There was a defenseman between us so I knew I had to use the boards,” said Damon.

Hopson said Damon gave him a great pass and he originally intended to shoot “five hole.”

“But I decided to shoot glove side. I think it’s an instinctive thing. That’s where I always shoot in practice,” said Hopson, who snapped it over Kliman’s glove.

Damon said he was glad the Bears were able to come back for Moore.

Hopson said the win “feels really good” and noted “we’ve been playing well in the third period lately” but the Bears have to start playing better in the first period.

“Matt [Lundin] definitely kept us in the game,” said Hopson.

Maine has outshot its last four opponents 57-35 in the third period, although they have only outscored them 4-3.

Brown completely dominated Maine for the final 12 minutes of the first period as they outworked the complacent Black Bears and generated one chance after another only to have Lundin rob them time and time again.

Lundin’s first gem came off Cory Caouette, who skated through the slot alone on him. Lundin, laying on his side, reached out with his right arm and corralled the puck before Caouette could deposit it into the empty net.

He made some point-blank short-side saves off Sean Hurley and Sean Dersch after they were set up just outside the crease.

He finished with seven Grade-A saves in that first period.

Brown got the goal it richly deserved in the opening minute of the second period as a pass off the boards from Paul Crosty sent Jeff Prough in alone.

Prough snapped a 12-footer past Lundin’s glove.

The goal was very similar to Hopson’s game-winner.

Maine gradually began playing better and with more urgency and the crowd gave them a big lift in the third period after they killed the five-minute disadvantage.

Lundin credited his mates with doing an outstanding job on the five-minute penalty kill, saying he couldn’t remember having to make any difficult saves.

He added he was happy with the way he played.

“I thought I played a solid game,” said Lundin.

“Matt was phenomenal,” said Bellamy.

Bauer said Lundin, “didn’t give us any rebounds. He covered up.”

Kliman, who had played in just four career games, was equally sharp and kept the Bears at bay until the goals by Bellamy and Hopson.

Kliman finished with 30 saves.

“This has been the story of our season,” said Brown coach Roger Grillo, a former UMaine defenseman. “We played hard, we played well. But we needed to be crisper on the power play and put some of our chances away.”

BLACK BEARS 2, BEARS 1

Brown (2-8-1) 0 1 0 – 1

Maine (10-5) 0 0 2 – 2

First period – No scoring; Penalties: Maine, Ryan, obstruction hooking, 10:42; Maine, Ramsey, holding the stick, 12:58; Brown, LeCain, hooking, 17:08; Brown, Prough, tripping, 18:49

Second period – 1. Brown, Prough 5 (Crosty), 1:00; Penalties: Brown, McNary, contact to head elbowing, 1:15; Brown, Crosty, roughing, 5:18; Maine, too many men on ice (served by Ryan), 12:16; Maine, Jankus, interference, 14:15; Brown, Robertson, holding, 18:35

Third period – 2. Maine, Bellamy 3 (Johnson, Damon), 11:04; 3. Maine, J. Hopson 4 (Damon, Wight), 15:24; Penalties: Maine, Leveille, tripping, :53; Maine, Moore, hitting from behind, 5-min. major, game misconduct, 5:36; Brown, Crosty, obstruction holding the stick, 12:14; Maine, J. Hopson, contact to head high-sticking, 13:15; Brown, Garbutt, charging the goalie, 16:35

Shots on goal: Brown 10-10-9-29; Maine 5-14-13-32

Goaltenders: Brown, Kliman (32 shots-30 saves); Maine, Ma. Lundin (29-28)

Power-play opportunities: Brown 0 of 7; Maine 0 of 7

High-percentage scoring chances: Brown 12-9-7-28; Maine 5-13-14-32

Attendance: 6,661