NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The University of Maine had their hands full with last-place Merrimack College Friday night.

But senior center Michel Leveille took care of matters in the third period.

Leveille’s power-play goal expanded a tenuous 2-1 lead 9:41 into the third period and added an insurance goal with 4:22 remaining as the Black Bears earned a 4-1 triumph over the Warriors at Lawler Arena.

Maine improved to 22-10-1 overall, 15-8-1 in Hockey East, and the Bears are now 8-1-1 in their last 10 games.

Maine pulled within one point of second-place Boston University and extended its lead over fourth-place New Hampshire and Proviidence to two points.

Merrimack fell to 5-21-5 overall, 2-17-5 in league play. The Warriors had their winless skein extended to seven games (0-4-3).

The two teams, who engaged in a wild scuffle in front of the Merrimack bench with 1:25 remaining that resulted in five fighting majors/game disqualifications including one to Warrior assistant coach Darren Yopyk, will play again tonight at 7.

“One of the signs of a good team is finding a way to win when you don’t play your best. And that’s what we did. We gutted it out. We can play better and we will,” said Maine coach Tim Whitehead.

Maine will be without center Jon Jankus and right wing Rob Bellamy on Saturday night due to fighting majors while Merrimack will be minus center Hank Carisio, backup goalie Patrick Watson and assistant coach Yopyk.

John Hopson gave Maine the lead when he snapped a 16-game goalless drought while Maine was enjoying a five-on-three advantage in the first period.

Merrimack’s Derek Pallardy tied it up with a shorthanded goal at the 10:58 mark of the second period as Maine freshman goalie Ben Bishop’s errant pass landed on his stick at center ice and he sailed it into the vacant net as Bishop was caught out of position after playing the puck.

Billy Ryan’s fifth goal in his last seven games, coming on the power play for Maine, broke the tie 4:45 later.

Leveille supplied the Bears with some valuable breathing room when he took a pass from Derek Damon at the right point, maneuvered across the high slot and wristed a shot through a screen that beat Merrimack goalie Jim Healey past his blocker.

Leveille said he and Damon had been switching positions while working the puck on the power play but Merrimack snuffed it out so they made an adjustment.

“Campbell [assistant coach Campbell Blair] told me to take an extra step and just wrist it to the net,” said Leveille, who followed his coach’s advice.

“Greg [Moore] did a great job taking away the goalie’s eyes. The shot hit the middle of the net,” said Leveille.

Healey acknowledged that he never saw the shot.

“They do a real good job [screening] in front of the net,” said Healey.

The unattended Leveille sewed up the win by darting to the far post and chipping a Josh Soares pass into the short side past the helpless Healey.

“I saw Michel but I fumbled the puck and had to get control of it. Fortunately, I was able to get it over to him,” said Soares.

Leveille extended his points streak to seven games (3 goals, 5 assists) with his two goals.

Hopson opened the scoring with 12 seconds left in the first period.

Merrimack’s Rob LaLonde had received a five-minute major for hitting from behind and a game misconduct and Brent Gough received a double minor for slashing and unsportsmanlike conduct.

Ryan set up Hopson’s goal by wheeling with the puck to the left of Healey and then snapping a precise pass to the far post where Hopson tapped it in.

“I just barely put it in. By about four inches,” said Hopson.

After Pallardy equalized, Ryan scored what proved to be the game-winner.

Bret Tyler skated laterally across the blue line and took a wrister that Ryan tipped past Healey.

“I could have shot it right away but I waited until we got some people in front. Billy made a great tip,” said Tyler.

BLACK BEARS 4, WARRIORS 1

Maine (22-10-1) 1 1 2 – 4

Merrimack (5-21-5) 0 1 0 – 1

First period – 1. Maine, J. Hopson 5 (Ryan), 19:48 (pp). Penalties: Mmk, Schmidt, roughing, 12:32; Maine, Jankus, roughing, 12:32; Mmk, LaLonde, hitting from behind, 16:07; Mmk, Gough, slashing and unsportsmanlike conduct, 17:33.

Second period – 2. Mmk, Pallardy 2 (unassisted), 10:58 (sh); 3. Maine, Ryan 9 (Tyler, Hamilton), 15:43. Penalties: Mmk, Gough, holding the stick, 9:58; Mmk, Goebel, slashing, 12:41; Maine, Bellamy, slashing, 12:41; Mmk, Carisio, charging, 14:10.

Third period – 4. Maine, Leveille 12 (Damon, Moore), 9:41 (pp); 5. Maine, Leveille 13 (Soares, Moore), 15:38. Penalties: Mmk, Alexiou, obstruction-holding the stick, 8:00; Mmk, Byrnes, slashing, 10:06; Maine, Bellamy, contact to the head-roughing, 15:45; Mmk, Sullivan, hooking, 17:33;; Maine, Ryan, diving, 17:33; Maine, Bellamy, five-minute major for fighting and game disqualifcation, 18:35; Maine, Jankus, five-minute major for fighting and game disqualification, 18:35; Mmk, Carisio, five-minute major for fighting and game disqualifcation, 18:35; Mmk, Watson, five-minute major for fighting and game disqualificaton, 18:35; Mmk, Alexiou, five-minute major for slashing and game misconduct, 18:35; Mmk, assistant coach Yopyk, five-minute major for fighting and game disqualification, 18:35.

Shots on goal: Maine 11-14-15-40; Merrimack 8-6-4-18

Goaltenders: Maine, Bishop (18 shots-17 saves); Merrimack, Healey (40-36)

Power-play opportunities: Maine 3 of 9, Merrimack 0 of 1

High percentage scoring chances: Maine 11-9-12-32; Merrimack 6-3-5-14

Attendance: 1,923