ORONO – Boston University transfer Brendan Walsh was expected to supply the University of Maine’s hockey team with feistiness, speed and scoring punch this season. Probably in that order.

But junior center Walsh, who had 13 goals in 65 games over two seasons at BU, erupted for a natural hat trick in the second period Friday night to lead the Black Bears to a 6-1 victory over the Providence College Friars.

Maine is now 6-1-1 overall, 3-1-1 in Hockey East. Providence fell to 5-4, 3-2. The two teams will meet again on Saturday night at 7.

The Bears are 16-0-1 in their last 17 games against PC at Alfond Arena dating back to 1989.

Marcus Gustafsson scored with a 22-foot wrist shot off a David Cullen pass just 1 minute, 16 seconds into the game before Providence’s Jerry Keefe equalized on the power play 3:15 later off the rebound of a Fernando Pisani shot.

Steve Kariya and Cullen added third-period goals as Kariya scored on a scintillating rush and 15-foot wrist shot before Cullen’s shot from the point deflected in.

“Providence has an excellent team and you could tell in the first period that we weren’t used to playing in our own end,” said Maine coach Shawn Walsh. “But our six defensemen kept getting better and they wound up playing a great game with support from the forwards. Brendan had a big night and [goalie] Alfie [Michaud] was outstanding.”

Walsh’s second-period goals, representing his first collegiate hat trick, were a shorthander, a power play score and an even-strength goal.

“I don’t feel I’ve been producing like I should be given the opportunities Coach [Walsh] has given me,” said Brendan Walsh, who has received steady duty on the special teams as well as centering a scoring line. “The puck hasn’t been bouncing for me. I feel like a baseball player in a slump.

“Tonight, the puck bounced my way. Once you get that first one, it raises your confidence,” added Walsh, who pointed out that the team devoted a lot of practice time getting off quick shots and driving to the net. “It paid off.”

His first one resulted from a Friar turnover deep in the PC defensive zone. Walsh jumped on the loose puck, took a stride and snapped a 17-foot wrist shot into the far corner past the blocker of Friar goalie Boyd Ballard.

“It went in off the far post,” said Walsh.

Three minutes and 16 seconds later, with the man advantage, Peter Metcalf partially fanned on his shot from the right point.

Walsh skated right to left across the middle of the slot and took a quick 18-foot backhander that slipped between Ballard’s pads.

“I fanned on my shot,” said Walsh who speculated that the fact he fanned on it may have thrown Ballard’s timing off.

His hat trick goal occurred just seconds after Michaud made a nice left shoulder save on a partial break-in by PC’s Jon Coe, who fired a 20-foot slap shot from the left circle.

Moments later, Walsh finished off a nifty individual effort.

He skated down the left wing in a one-on-one with Friar defenseman Mike Farrell and appeared to slow down a tad. He then put on a burst of speed to maneuver around Farrell to the outside before cutting across the top of the crease and tucking the puck between Ballard’s left skate and the left post.

That sent Ballard to the bench and he was replaced by Mark Kane.

“We played very well in the first period but we lost our composure in the second period,” said Providence coach Paul Pooley. “We were our own worst enemy. Not everybody came to play tonight. But you’ve got to give Maine credit. They played well and created chances off transition. Walsh played a great game and Alfie was solid.”

Michaud finished with 24 saves while Ballard and Kane combined for 17.

“The guys played great defense in front of me. When you don’t see any second shots, it makes your life easier,” said Michaud.

Kariya had three assists to go with his goal.

Maine 6, Providence 1 Providence (5-4) 1 0 0 – 1 Maine (6-1-1) 1 3 2 – 6

First period – 1. M, Gustafsson (Cullen), 1:16; 2. P, Keefe (Sani) 4:31, ppg. Penalties: M, Walsh, slashing, 4:14; M, Begg, interference, 4:39; P, Lake, hooking, 6:12; P, Sheppard, interference, 12:19; P, Lake, holding stick, 16:40

Second period – 3. M, Walsh, 4:05, shg; 4. M, Walsh (Metcalf, Kariya), 7:21, ppg; 5. Walsh, (Kariya), 11:04. Penalties: M, Trattnig, tripping, 2:33; P, Farrell, late hit, 4:36; M, Walsh, elbowing, 4:36; P, Dean, interference, 6:05; M, A. Lunback, interference, 8:08; P, Pisani, slashing, 8:54; P, Dean, highsticking, 16:41

Third period – 6. M, Kariya (Janik, Stewart), 4:18; 7. Cullen (Gustafsson, Kariya), 17:55, ppg. Penalties: M, Janik, elbowing, 4:36; M, Janik, roughing, 8:25; M, Trattnig, tripping, 11:26; M, Jaaskelainen, interference, 13:15; M, Jaaskelainen, interference, 15:38; P, Ialongo, highsticking, 16:09

Shots on goal: Providence 11-6-8-25; Maine 7-11-5-23

High percentage scoring chances: Providence 5-2-5-12; Maine 9-10-7-26

Power-play Opportunities: Providence 1 of 9, Maine 2 of 7

Goaltenders: Providence, Ballard (15 shots-11 saves), Kane (8-6); Maine, Michaud (25-24)

Attendance: 5,278