Greetings from Meehan Auditorium here in Providence, where this afternoon the Merrimack College Warriors return from the holiday break to take on the Brown University Bears. The puck drop is at 4 p.m.
In today’s live blog, I’ll be offering live analysis and updates throughout the game.
That will do it for today's live blog. Thanks for following along. I'll have much more later. Make sure to subscribe so you can get all of our posts delivered right to your inbox.
After the Forsmark goal, Brown is making a goalie change. Gabriel Vinal is entering the game. The senior is making just his 3rd career appearance. Forsmark's goal was his second of the game. The goal was generated off a forced turnover by Matt Copponi, who will pickup the assist.
Underway in the third period. Mick Messner and Liam Walsh both on the Merrimack bench, so it appears that they are good to go after both got banged up in the second period.
A much more even period as far as puck possession goes, but the Warriors come out of it with a 2-1 edge in the period and a 4-1 lead in the game entering the third period. Merrimack will enter the third period with the lead for just the fourth time this season.
Brown back to the PP. Uens off for x-checking. Rough shift there for Uens, who was tied up with someone on the Brown bench earlier in the shift after getting bent over the wall on a hit. The Brown bench was screaming for a call on Uens earlier in the shift, looking for a high stick in the neutral zone.
Mick Messner got tied up near the wall. Not sure if he caught a rut in the ice. Looks like his leg twisted underneath him. Not good. But he made it back to the bench without assistance, which is a good sign. Walsh has his helmet on, so it looks like he will be returning to the game.
Great look by Steven Jandric to find Max Newton for his second goal of the afternoon and ninth goal of the season. There was a lot of back-and-forth chances at both ends in the few minutes that preceded that goal. Ollas made some tough saves on Brown chances through traffic or off odd-man rushes.
The Warriors are showing a finishing ability that they lacked last time out against Dartmouth, when they similarly dominated most of the game's possession and only scored twice and came away with a 2-2 tie.
Liam Walsh just pulled up lame after a one-time attempt on a 2-on-1. I didn't see anything happen at live speed. Not sure what happened but he's hunched over and getting attention on the MC bench by trainers. I'll keep an eye on that.
Merrimack was a little passive on that PK which led to the Brown goal. The Bears had a wide-open seam and Maloney fired it to Jallen for the one-timer.
Filip Forsmark will get the goal for the Warriors. It's a 5v5 goal (the penalty had just expired), so Merrimack's power-play scoreless streak will continue. Brown was giving Merrimack SO much time and space on that power play. Just like they have 5v5, to be honest. Good effort by Forsmark to get to that loose puck in the slot.
Liam Dennison in the box now puts Brown on the PP.
Merrimack couldn't have asked for a better start. The only criticism is I would have liked to see more shots on goal. Brown is giving Merrimack a ton of zone time with the puck on their stick. There were periods where it looked like they were getting a little too cute.
The second period will start with 0:13 of 4v4 play and then Merrimack will have a 0:51 power play.
No goal. I'm not sure if there is a minor that's called on Brown on the play ... I don't think so because I don't believe you can review minor penalties, so I think it's just no goal.
No one near the puck was offside. Michael Maloney may have been offside on the very bottom of the screen on the replay angle we just saw. Really hard to tell from that camera shot though.
Heads-up play by Max Newton to recognize that the puck was loose behind Kania after Forsmark's shot. Inexcusable defense there by the Bears. Two defensemen were in the crease pushing Newton instead of trying to get the puck out of the crease. Newton jammed it in for his 8th goal of the year.
Mick Messner to the box now to put Brown on the PP for the first time tonight.
It's been almost all Merrimack here in the first period, as far as puck possession is concerned. The Warriors are out-attempting the Bears 14-9 at the 11:00 mark of the period. Brown is giving MC a ton of time with the puck in the offensive zone. They've been very passive defensively.
The Merrimack goal will go to Jordan Seyfert (his second of the year) from Mick Messner and Zach Uens. Shortly after the goal, the Warriors went on the power play with Luke Albert off for tripping. Brown killed that penalty.
Merrimack and Brown players take the ice for introductions and the national anthem here at Meehan Auditorium. It will be Hugo Ollas (3.14/.883) vs. Luke Kania (3.22/.910) between the pipes today.
That will do it for today's live blog. Thanks for following along. I'll have much more later. Make sure to subscribe so you can get all of our posts delivered right to your inbox.
Final: Merrimack 7, Brown 1.
The 7 goals for the Warriors today is their most in a game since a 10-0 win over Arizona State on Jan. 31, 2016.
MC 7, BRN 1 (2:57, 3rd)
The seven goals scored today are now Merrimack's most goals in a game all season. The previous high was six goals (in an 8-6 loss at BU)
MERRIMACK GOAL: Matt Copponi pots his first NCAA goal ... 7-1 Merrimack.
MC 6, BRN 1 (9:12, 3rd)
The Warriors are still pressuring looking for more.
MC 6, BRN 1 (13:16, 3rd)
Ryan Nolan scores on a mini-breakaway ... that's his first of the season. Brown takes a timeout. Warriors are pouring it on.
MERRIMACK GOAL: Merrimack now leads 6-1 with 13:16 left in the 3rd.
MC 5, BRN 1 (15:41, 3rd)
After the Forsmark goal, Brown is making a goalie change. Gabriel Vinal is entering the game. The senior is making just his 3rd career appearance. Forsmark's goal was his second of the game. The goal was generated off a forced turnover by Matt Copponi, who will pickup the assist.
MERRIMACK GOAL: Warriors make it 5-1 on a Forsmark breakaway.
MC 4, BRN 1 (19:06, 3rd)
Brown to the PP. Jandric called for a penalty in the offensive zone.
MC 4, Brown 1 (19:59, 3rd)
Underway in the third period. Mick Messner and Liam Walsh both on the Merrimack bench, so it appears that they are good to go after both got banged up in the second period.
End of 2: Merrimack 4, Brown 1
MC Goals: Filip Forsmark, Max Newton
BRN Goals: Justin Jallen
SOG: 17-15, MC (8-7 MC in the period)
Attempts: 37-35 BRN (23-14 BRN in the period)
A much more even period as far as puck possession goes, but the Warriors come out of it with a 2-1 edge in the period and a 4-1 lead in the game entering the third period. Merrimack will enter the third period with the lead for just the fourth time this season.
MC 4, Brown 1 (2:08, 2nd)
Brown back to the PP. Uens off for x-checking. Rough shift there for Uens, who was tied up with someone on the Brown bench earlier in the shift after getting bent over the wall on a hit. The Brown bench was screaming for a call on Uens earlier in the shift, looking for a high stick in the neutral zone.
MC 4, Brown 1 (4:35, 2nd)
Mick Messner got tied up near the wall. Not sure if he caught a rut in the ice. Looks like his leg twisted underneath him. Not good. But he made it back to the bench without assistance, which is a good sign. Walsh has his helmet on, so it looks like he will be returning to the game.
MC 4, Brown 1 (5:20, 2nd)
Great look by Steven Jandric to find Max Newton for his second goal of the afternoon and ninth goal of the season. There was a lot of back-and-forth chances at both ends in the few minutes that preceded that goal. Ollas made some tough saves on Brown chances through traffic or off odd-man rushes.
The Warriors are showing a finishing ability that they lacked last time out against Dartmouth, when they similarly dominated most of the game's possession and only scored twice and came away with a 2-2 tie.
MERRIMACK GOAL: Warriors up their lead to 4-1 with 5:37 left in the 2nd period
MC 3, Brown 1 (12:08, 2nd)
Liam Walsh just pulled up lame after a one-time attempt on a 2-on-1. I didn't see anything happen at live speed. Not sure what happened but he's hunched over and getting attention on the MC bench by trainers. I'll keep an eye on that.
MC 3, Brown 1 (15:46, 2nd)
Merrimack was a little passive on that PK which led to the Brown goal. The Bears had a wide-open seam and Maloney fired it to Jallen for the one-timer.
BROWN GOAL: PP goal for the Bears. 3-1 Merrimack with 16:57 left in the 2nd period.
MC 3, Brown 0 (18:35, 2nd)
Filip Forsmark will get the goal for the Warriors. It's a 5v5 goal (the penalty had just expired), so Merrimack's power-play scoreless streak will continue. Brown was giving Merrimack SO much time and space on that power play. Just like they have 5v5, to be honest. Good effort by Forsmark to get to that loose puck in the slot.
Liam Dennison in the box now puts Brown on the PP.
MERRIMACK GOAL: Warriors take a 3-0 lead with 18:55 left in the 2nd.
MC 2, Brown 0 (19:39, 2nd)
The game is underway in the second period. Merrimack on the power play now after the 4v4 time expires.
Merrimack 2, Brown 0 (End of 1st)
MC Goals: Jordan Seyfert (2), Max Newton (8)
Shots: 21-14 Merrimack (attempts), 9-7 Merrimack (SOG)
Scoring Chances: 9-4 Merrimack
Merrimack couldn't have asked for a better start. The only criticism is I would have liked to see more shots on goal. Brown is giving Merrimack a ton of zone time with the puck on their stick. There were periods where it looked like they were getting a little too cute.
The second period will start with 0:13 of 4v4 play and then Merrimack will have a 0:51 power play.
MC 2, Brown 0 (56.6, 1st)
No goal. Merrimack and Brown will play 4v4 hockey for about one minute and then Merrimack will have a shortened power play.
Well, they're putting a guy in the box for Brown. So I guess you can call a minor penalty out of the review.
No goal. I'm not sure if there is a minor that's called on Brown on the play ... I don't think so because I don't believe you can review minor penalties, so I think it's just no goal.
That's clear as day
Wait - they had 6 guys on the ice. That's too many men. Clearly a no goal.
That looks onside to me ... I think the goal stands?
No one near the puck was offside. Michael Maloney may have been offside on the very bottom of the screen on the replay angle we just saw. Really hard to tell from that camera shot though.
But hold on ... they're going to review this for a potential offside. Looks like MC is challenging this.
BROWN GOAL: Justin Jallen from the point on the PP. 2-1 Merrimack with 56.3 left in the 1st
MC 2, Brown 0 (2:00, 1st)
Heads-up play by Max Newton to recognize that the puck was loose behind Kania after Forsmark's shot. Inexcusable defense there by the Bears. Two defensemen were in the crease pushing Newton instead of trying to get the puck out of the crease. Newton jammed it in for his 8th goal of the year.
Mick Messner to the box now to put Brown on the PP for the first time tonight.
MERRIMACK GOAL: Warriors take a 2-0 lead with 2:23 left in the 1st
MC 1, Brown 0 (9:51, 1st)
It's been almost all Merrimack here in the first period, as far as puck possession is concerned. The Warriors are out-attempting the Bears 14-9 at the 11:00 mark of the period. Brown is giving MC a ton of time with the puck in the offensive zone. They've been very passive defensively.
Merrimack 1, Brown 0 (15:21, 1st)
The Merrimack goal will go to Jordan Seyfert (his second of the year) from Mick Messner and Zach Uens. Shortly after the goal, the Warriors went on the power play with Luke Albert off for tripping. Brown killed that penalty.
MERRIMACK GOAL: 1-0 Warriors with 17:33 left in the 1st period.
Merrimack 0, Brown 0, 19:59 1st
We're underway at Meehan Auditorium. Scott Borek opts to start Logan Drevitch's line.
Pregame:
Merrimack and Brown players take the ice for introductions and the national anthem here at Meehan Auditorium. It will be Hugo Ollas (3.14/.883) vs. Luke Kania (3.22/.910) between the pipes today.