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ORONO – It took 44 games but it couldn’t have come at a better time.
University of Maine sophomore goalie Ben Bishop posted his first career shutout and it snapped a three-game losing streak as the Black Bears blanked the Providence College Friars 3-0 Friday night.
The Bears’ first win since Nov. 10 (4-1 over UMass Lowell) improved their record to 9-3-1 overall, 4-3-1 in Hockey East. Providence fell to 4-10-1 and 3-6-1, respectively.
The 6-foot-7 native of Des Peres, Mo. made 30 saves, including 15 in the third period as the desperate Friars tried to cut into a 2-0 lead. He was forced to make just six Grade-A (high-percentage) saves over the 60 minutes as his mates limited Providence’s close-in attempts and second shots.
Senior left wing Brent Shepheard and senior center Mike Hamilton scored 5:47 apart in the second period to stake Maine to a 2-0 lead. Matt Duffy added a power-play goal with 2:37 left in regulation, snapping Providence’s string of 31 consecutive penalty kills.
Bishop was at his best early in the third period when the Friars had a two-man advantage that spanned 1:05.
“He was unsolvable tonight,” said Providence sophomore defenseman Cody Wild. “He killed that five-on-three by himself. We had a lot of chances. It was his night.”
“He stood on his head in that five-on-three,” added Providence senior center and co-captain Tony Zancanaro, who hit the post early in the third period.
Bishop said, “I just tried to stay big and the guys did a great job in front of me. I think that’s the most blocked shots our guys have made in two years. They were diving all over the ice.”
Bishop was pleased to finally get his shutout after posting 17 one-goal performances.
“It took a while. But it feels good,” he said.
Zancanaro said Maine did an exceptional job clearing the net front to prevent his Friars from generating second chances.
Shepheard opened the scoring 3:44 into the second period when Teddy Purcell controlled the puck behind the net and Shepheard skated on to it before scoring with a quick wraparound to the right of goalie Tyler Sims.
“Teddy had a defenseman on him but he was able to push the puck ahead to me,” said Shepheard. “My first instinct was to try a wraparound. I thought I might be able to fool the goalie. I was able to tuck it in the short side.”
Sims said, “I didn’t get my pads or stick down and he made a good play.”
Hamilton made it 2-0 with his third goal in four games.
He took a pass from behind the net by Billy Ryan and beat Sims from a difficult angle between the base of the faceoff circle and the extended goal line to the right of Sims.
“Billy made a great pass and I just tried to put the puck to the far side,” said Hamilton, whose shot hit Sims’ goal stick and deflected into the far corner.
“I saw the pass out but I never saw the shot. I thought I had everything covered,” said Sims. “I heard something hit my stick.”
Providence coach Tim Army said he felt Maine’s first two goals should have been stopped.
“We haven’t scored the big goals when we needed them or made the big saves. That’s the way our season has been. But Bishop played well and Maine did a good job protecting him,” said Army.
Duffy iced it by intercepting a Friar clearout and blasting a 35-foot slapper over Sims’ glove. The shot deflected off the stick of PC’s Dinos Stamoulis.
Maine coach Tim Whitehead said his team played “really well” and Bishop was excellent.
“He stayed big and was very decisive with the puck,” said Whitehead. “He was a very strong presence in the net.”
Providence outshot Maine 30-24.
BLACK BEARS 3, FRIARS 0
Providence (4-10-1) 0 0 0 – 0
Maine (9-3-1) 0 2 1 – 3
First period – No scoring. Penalties: Maine, Bellamy, tripping, 1:52.
Second period – 1. Maine, Shepheard 4 (Purcell, Duffy), 3:44; 2. Maine, Hamilton 3 (Ryan, Duffy), 9:31. Penalties: PC, Fayne, hooking, 12:50.
Third period – 3. Maine, Duffy 3 (Tyler), 17:23. Penalties: Maine, Danis-Pepin, interference, 3:24; Maine, Ramsey, cross-checking, 4:19; Maine, team, too many men on ice, 7:00; PC, Norton, obstruction-hooking, 11:00; PC, Cavanagh, interference, 16:50.
Shots on goal: Providence 8-7-15-30; Maine 5-13-6-24
Goaltenders: PC, Sims (24 shots-21 saves); Maine, Bishop (30-30)
Power-play opportunities: Providence 0 of 4; Maine 1 of 3
High-percentage scoring chances: Providence 1-4-10-15; Maine 7-6-6-19
Attendance: 5,240
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