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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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Greetings from Alfond. The teams are on the ice for introductions.
Merrimack starters ...
Steven Jandric — Max Newton — Alex Jefferies
Zach Uens — Zach Vinnell
Zach Borgiel
Almost game time.
Game on!
First whistle comes almost five minutes into the first period.
Two big saves by Borgiel.
Merrimack to the PP for the first time tonight.
It only lasts 30 seconds. Alex Jefferies trips up a man. 4v4 for 1:30 and then a brief Maine PP.
Merrimack back to the PP now. 4v3. Maine off for a slash.
Barely a whistle for 8 minutes ... now three penalties in 43 seconds. Merrimack on a 4v3 PP.
Warriors called for offside ... that puck looked like it was in the zone from up here.
MERRIMACK GOAL: Merrimack 1, Maine 0 with 9:59 left in the 1st.
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.
Back to 5v5
And Maine goes to the PP.
Media timeout.
Merrimack gets the kill.
No penalties ... but Borgiel's net got knocked over.
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.
Penalties coming with 3.3 left in the 1st.
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.
End of 1: Merrimack leads Maine, 1-0. SOG 12-4 Warriors.
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.
Teams back on the ice for the 2nd period. Merrimack will have 1:57 of PP time to begin the period.
Merrimack scores but it's waived off. Goalie interference on Walsh is the call, which will put Maine on the PP.
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 has dominated 5v5 this period.
Media timeout with 9:05 left in the 2nd period.
Logan Drevitch is down in the corner, and he's not moving well. Trainers on the ice to attend to him.
Maine students heckling him ... that's classy.
Drevitch has managed to get over to the boards and he's leaning on the wall while being attended to by the trainer.
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 his jersey off - he's still being attended to by trainers on the bench.
Jersey back on for Drevitch. That's a good sign.
MERRIMACK GOAL: Merrimack 2, Maine 0 with 4:11 left in the 2nd period. Christian Felton's first goal as a Warrior.
Felton pinched down from the blue line and one-timed a feed from Liam Walsh.
That's actually Christian Felton's first collegiate goal. He did not have a goal for Bentley last season.
Walsh to the box, Maine back on the PP.
End of 2: Merrimack leads Maine, 2-0.
This is the first time all season Merrimack has led after two periods.
Teams are on the ice for the third period.
Maine will begin the period with 0:45 of PP time.
Game on in the 3rd!
Back to 5v5
Drevitch back out for MC - that's good to see.
12:26 to paly.
9:33 left, 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.
6:14 left ... the building is starting to empty out. Still 2-0 Merrimack.
Media timeout with 3:24 left.