ORONO, Maine — Greetings from Alfond Arena, where tonight the Merrimack College Warriors finish a two-game series against the Maine Black Bears. Maine took the first game of the series, 6-5, in overtime last night. Tonight’s game is being streamed on College Sports Live. Follow along for my live updates and analysis. If you have questions or comments during the game, interact with our coverage by commenting.
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The Warriors take 4 of 6 points this weekend on the road. They'll head back to North Andover with next weekend off. The Warriors will be back in action on Nov. 23 at Holy Cross.
SOG 5-2 Maine - that's to be expected. Maine taking more chances, trying to get more pucks to the net. Merrimack focused on getting pucks deep and forcing Maine to go 200 feet. Warriors doing a nice job of that thus far.
Drevitch back to his feet ... he's headed back to the bench, not the tunnel. So that's a good sign. Trainers continue to work on him on the bench. Looks like an upper-body injury.
Saw three replays . The player who crosschecked him immediately looked at the refs. Sure that he would called. The Maine announcers had a “well you know …” attitude🤔. Typical stuff that happens up there.
Maine F Cam Spicer will turn 26 years old in Feb. I haven't checked, but there can't be many '96s playing college hockey. Spicer using his 5th year with Maine this season.
Spicer played for Merrimack assistant Dan Jewell when he was an assistant with Bloomington in the USHL.
Brar's goal was his 6th of the season, which sets a new career-high for him. Brar has now appeared in 12 games, and has 6 goals and 4 assists for 10 points. ... his 10th point matches his career-high and he's done that all in just 12 games.
Good job by the Warriors there to make Maine pay for a mistake. Puck was turned over in the offensive zone and some tic-tac-toe passing makes it 1-0 Warriors. Newton to Brar for the goal.
My game story will be posted shortly and will be free. My takeaways will be for subscribers, and will be posted later tonight.
That will do it for our live coverage tonight. Thanks everyone for checking in. I'll have a lot more later.
The Warriors take 4 of 6 points this weekend on the road. They'll head back to North Andover with next weekend off. The Warriors will be back in action on Nov. 23 at Holy Cross.
Excellent play by Merrimack!
FINAL: Merrimack 2, Maine 0. Zach Borgiel with his first collegiate shutout for the Warriors.
6v5
3:11 left - Thiessen to the bench for Maine.
Media timeout with 3:24 left.
6:14 left ... the building is starting to empty out. Still 2-0 Merrimack.
SOG 5-2 Maine - that's to be expected. Maine taking more chances, trying to get more pucks to the net. Merrimack focused on getting pucks deep and forcing Maine to go 200 feet. Warriors doing a nice job of that thus far.
9:33 left, still 2-0 Merrimack.
12:26 to paly.
Drevitch back out for MC - that's good to see.
Back to 5v5
Game on in the 3rd!
Maine will begin the period with 0:45 of PP time.
Teams are on the ice for the third period.
This is the first time all season Merrimack has led after two periods.
End of 2: Merrimack leads Maine, 2-0.
Walsh to the box, Maine back on the PP.
That's actually Christian Felton's first collegiate goal. He did not have a goal for Bentley last season.
Felton pinched down from the blue line and one-timed a feed from Liam Walsh.
MERRIMACK GOAL: Merrimack 2, Maine 0 with 4:11 left in the 2nd period. Christian Felton's first goal as a Warrior.
Jersey back on for Drevitch. That's a good sign.
Drevitch has his jersey off - he's still being attended to by trainers on the bench.
Drevitch back to his feet ... he's headed back to the bench, not the tunnel. So that's a good sign. Trainers continue to work on him on the bench. Looks like an upper-body injury.
Drevitch has managed to get over to the boards and he's leaning on the wall while being attended to by the trainer.
Maine students heckling him ... that's classy.
It was just a handful of kids ... but that stuff irks me.
Logan Drevitch is down in the corner, and he's not moving well. Trainers on the ice to attend to him.
Penalty not called.
Nope .. it was in the corner that's obstructed, so I didn't see the play. ... and yes, there's a corner that's obstructed from the press box haha.
Saw three replays . The player who crosschecked him immediately looked at the refs. Sure that he would called. The Maine announcers had a “well you know …” attitude🤔. Typical stuff that happens up there.
Media timeout with 9:05 left in the 2nd period.
Merrimack has dominated 5v5 this period.
Good push in the second period. Warriors limited Maine's chances on its PP and as soon as the game got back to 5v5 the puck is back down Maine's zone.
Merrimack scores but it's waived off. Goalie interference on Walsh is the call, which will put Maine on the PP.
Teams back on the ice for the 2nd period. Merrimack will have 1:57 of PP time to begin the period.
Maine F Cam Spicer will turn 26 years old in Feb. I haven't checked, but there can't be many '96s playing college hockey. Spicer using his 5th year with Maine this season.
Spicer played for Merrimack assistant Dan Jewell when he was an assistant with Bloomington in the USHL.
End of 1: Merrimack leads Maine, 1-0. SOG 12-4 Warriors.
Actually just one ... Merrimack to the PP. So the Warriors will have 3.3 of PP time here and then begin the 2nd on the PP.
Penalties coming with 3.3 left in the 1st.
Brar's goal was his 6th of the season, which sets a new career-high for him. Brar has now appeared in 12 games, and has 6 goals and 4 assists for 10 points. ... his 10th point matches his career-high and he's done that all in just 12 games.
No penalties ... but Borgiel's net got knocked over.
Merrimack gets the kill.
Media timeout.
And Maine goes to the PP.
Back to 5v5
Good job by the Warriors there to make Maine pay for a mistake. Puck was turned over in the offensive zone and some tic-tac-toe passing makes it 1-0 Warriors. Newton to Brar for the goal.
MERRIMACK GOAL: Merrimack 1, Maine 0 with 9:59 left in the 1st.
Warriors called for offside ... that puck looked like it was in the zone from up here.
Barely a whistle for 8 minutes ... now three penalties in 43 seconds. Merrimack on a 4v3 PP.
Merrimack back to the PP now. 4v3. Maine off for a slash.
It only lasts 30 seconds. Alex Jefferies trips up a man. 4v4 for 1:30 and then a brief Maine PP.
Merrimack to the PP for the first time tonight.