Gill extends goal streak to seven games, but Warriors fall at Maine

Maine 5, Merrimack 3

Reflecting on Friday’s 5–3 loss at Maine, Merrimack coach Scott Borek distilled the night down to a single, recurring issue.

“Their forecheck beat out breakout,” he said. “Tonight was the classic example. We couldn’t get out of our own zone. That was pretty puck the story of the game.”

The Warriors were very much in it — the game was tied 3–3 in the third period — but breakdowns in the defensive zone proved costly. Poorly executed breakouts led directly to two of Maine’s four goals, before an empty-netter sealed it late.

“Including the game-winning goal,” Borek said.

Maine jumped out to a 2–0 lead in the first period on a pair of goals from Josh Nadeau. Mark Hillier cut the deficit in half with 45 seconds left in the period, a timely strike that gave the Warriors some belief heading into the first intermission.

The Black Bears pushed the lead back to two at 3–1 in the second, but Caelan Fitzpatrick answered with a goal — much like Hillier’s earlier tally — to keep it a one-goal game entering the third. Justin Gill then tied it just 46 seconds into the final period.

Gill’s goal extended his goal streak to seven games. That’s the longest goal streak in college hockey this season. Gill also has a 12-game point streak, which is tied for the second-longest point streak this season, and just one game behind St. Thomas’ Lucas Wahlin for the longest point streak in college hockey this season.

Momentum didn’t last.

Another failed breakout led to a turnover, and Oskari Komarov capitalized with an unassisted goal to restore Maine’s lead.

Merrimack had two power-play opportunities late but couldn’t find the equalizer.

“We’re on the road, down twice by two goals, and getting that tying goal was huge,” Borek said. “Then we had a power play — two actually — didn’t capitalize, and they got momentum off those kills and that helped them get the game over the finish line.

“We need to clean things up for tomorrow. We have to break out better. Their fourth goal came off a bad puck touch. We just need to clean it up.”

The teams will drop the puck again Saturday night at 7 p.m. in the second game of the series.