Liam Walsh forced a turnover on Michael Callahan which led to a scoring chance but Stauber made the save. The Warriors have pushed back a bit in the last two minutes, even forcing a PC icing.
Merrimack is going to have to survive these final 7 minutes. The Friars are pushing hard. Merrimack just iced the puck to relieve some pressure. Mac Welsher then tied up his man on a draw and Durflinger made a nice play to cut to the inside, scoop up the puck and get it deep for a line change.
Nate Leaman is challenging the play. He is challenging a major penalty in the scrum after the whistle. There was no minor penalty called on the play, which means the officials only have the option of calling a major.
Forsmark was down in front of the Providence net. It looked like he was having some trouble getting back to his feet. It was hard to tell if he was hurt or if it was a skate issue. He's up and back to the bench now.
Very good individual effort by Declan Carlile on Merrimack's third goal. He drove to the net hard and followed up his own shot. He did a good job (was visible on the overhead replay) of making sure his feet were set outside of the crease.
That should be a goal. If there was any contact with the goalie, it was after the puck crossed the line and Carlile was pushed into Stauber by a defender.
Forsmark takes an enormous hit at the offensive blue line and it sets off a trickle effect of big body blows. Forsmark got up and delivered one back to Parker Ford in front of the MC bench and Liam Walsh got tied up with Nick Poisson in the neutral zone. They're both off for roughing. 4v4 hockey for 2:00.
Some 4v4 hockey coming up with the Friars headed to the box. After the penalty to Newton expires, Merrimack will have 0:55 of PP time to close out the second period.
Smart play by Walsh on his goal. A blocked shot looked like it was going to result in a Providence clear, but Walsh saw that Declan Carlile was going to get to the puck first. The PC defender moved up after the block and Walsh stayed low. He was all alone on the back post to connect on the one-timer.
The goals were scored just about two minutes apart. Karlsson-Tagtstrom will get the first goal. Max Newton and Filip Forsmark on the assists. The second goal is Liam Walsh's, we'll have to see who gets credited with assists.
I believe Filip Karlsson-Tagtstrom will get the goal, but it was hard to see. There was traffic in front. Good effort to get to the net and nice puck movement to get the puck there. Quick hands forced PC to scramble on the 6v5 with the goalie pulled.
Game on in the second period. I didn't think the penalty on Welsher was a good call. Looked like Welsher just had his stick under the opponent's. If he came over the top, it's a slash. It was tough to see from our angle in the press box but I thought he came from underneath the opponent's stick.
The Friars get on the board with the late power-play goal. That's a tough one to swallow if you're Merrimack. The Warriors did a decent job on that PK up until the goal. The Friars had possession - Merrimack didn't get as many clears as the first PK - but the Warriors kept much of that possession held outside the dots.
Providence is headed back on the power play. Mac Welsher is headed to the box. The Friars are 0 for 1 on the PP tonight and Merrimack hasn't been on the PP yet.
Another media timeout. A very quick period thus far. Again, not much happening as far as scoring chances go. SOG are 6-2 Friars and Providence has an 11-5 attempt edge. Steven Jandric just had Merrimack's best opportunity of the period, and it didn't even result in a shot. He was edged off the puck by Taige Harding on a 1-on-1 as he cut to the net. But, that was the highest-pressure play Stauber has seen to this point.
No goal called on the ice but the officials will review it. I didn't see anything that looked like a goal? So I'm not entirely sure what they're even reviewing. Everything leading up to Merrimack icing the puck was just some rimming the puck around the end wall, so it must have been a sequence that happened much before that. Either way, no goal called on the ice and confirmed via review.
Good PK for the Warriors. Ollas made a clear himself at the end to kill off the rest of the time. We're almost nine minutes into the game and Merrimack has yet to record a shot on goal.
Providence is headed on the power play after a media stoppage. Zach Uens tied up a stick in the neutral zone and he'll head to the box. Providence has one of the deadliest power plays in the nation.
Providence has gone offside a handful of times to begin this game. Not much to report as far as scoring opportunities. A lot of play in the middle of the rink. Neither team has established a presence in the opponent's zone yet.
That will do it for our live coverage tonight. Thanks for following along, and check back alter for much more. For now, goodnight from Lawler Arena.
FINAL: Merrimack 3, Providence 2. The teams will get together and do it again tomorrow at Schneider Arena.
Stauber to the bench again with 1:18 left.
MC 3, PC 2 (1:48 3rd)
Providence ices the puck ... Newton and Jefferies out with Mac Welsher for MC. Vinnell and Felton on D.
PROVIDENCE GOAL: Friars climb back and make it 3-2 with 2:26 left. Extra-attacker goal as Stauber had just reached the bench.
MC 3, PC 1 (2:37 3rd)
Stauber headed to the bench for the extra attacker.
MC 3, PC 1 (5:39 3rd)
Liam Walsh forced a turnover on Michael Callahan which led to a scoring chance but Stauber made the save. The Warriors have pushed back a bit in the last two minutes, even forcing a PC icing.
MC 3, PC 1 (7:31 3rd)
Merrimack is going to have to survive these final 7 minutes. The Friars are pushing hard. Merrimack just iced the puck to relieve some pressure. Mac Welsher then tied up his man on a draw and Durflinger made a nice play to cut to the inside, scoop up the puck and get it deep for a line change.
MC 3, PC 1 (8:22 3rd)
Forsmark is OK. He's back out now for a shift.
No penalty. Providence is charged a timeout.
MC 3, PC 1 (10:17 3rd)
Nate Leaman is challenging the play. He is challenging a major penalty in the scrum after the whistle. There was no minor penalty called on the play, which means the officials only have the option of calling a major.
MC 3, PC 1 (10:17 3rd)
Most post-whistle scrums after Ollas makes a stop. The officials are resetting the net and moving the draw outside of the Merrimack defensive zone.
MC 3, PC 1 (11:38 3rd)
Providence is headed on the PP with Vinnell off.
MC 3, PC 1 (11:38 3rd)
Forsmark was down in front of the Providence net. It looked like he was having some trouble getting back to his feet. It was hard to tell if he was hurt or if it was a skate issue. He's up and back to the bench now.
MC 3, PC 1 (14:17 3rd)
Very good individual effort by Declan Carlile on Merrimack's third goal. He drove to the net hard and followed up his own shot. He did a good job (was visible on the overhead replay) of making sure his feet were set outside of the crease.
The goal stands. 3-1 Merrimack.
That should be a goal. If there was any contact with the goalie, it was after the puck crossed the line and Carlile was pushed into Stauber by a defender.
Hold up - they're going to review this for potential goaltender interference. Carlile drove to the net and followed up his own rebound it looked like.
MERRIMACK GOAL: The Warriors extend their lead to 3-1 with 14:26 left in the 3rd period.
MC 2, PC 1 (14:52 3rd)
Forsmark takes an enormous hit at the offensive blue line and it sets off a trickle effect of big body blows. Forsmark got up and delivered one back to Parker Ford in front of the MC bench and Liam Walsh got tied up with Nick Poisson in the neutral zone. They're both off for roughing. 4v4 hockey for 2:00.
MC 2, PC 1 (18:17 3rd)
Game on in the 3rd period.
End of 2: Merrimack leads Providence 2-1. I'm off to do intermission.
MC 2, PC 1 (1:23 2nd)
Some 4v4 hockey coming up with the Friars headed to the box. After the penalty to Newton expires, Merrimack will have 0:55 of PP time to close out the second period.
MC 2, PC 1 (2:50 2nd)
Merrimack killed that first penalty but now Max Newton heads off for cross checking and the Friars are back on the PP late in the second.
MC 2, PC 1 (8:26 2nd)
Providence is headed back on the PP.
MC 2, PC 1 (10:17 2nd)
Smart play by Walsh on his goal. A blocked shot looked like it was going to result in a Providence clear, but Walsh saw that Declan Carlile was going to get to the puck first. The PC defender moved up after the block and Walsh stayed low. He was all alone on the back post to connect on the one-timer.
MC 2, PC 1 (11:41 2nd)
The goals were scored just about two minutes apart. Karlsson-Tagtstrom will get the first goal. Max Newton and Filip Forsmark on the assists. The second goal is Liam Walsh's, we'll have to see who gets credited with assists.
MERRIMACK GOAL: Liam Walsh converts on the power play to give the Warriors a 2-1 lead.
PC 1, MC 1 (13:37 2nd)
I believe Filip Karlsson-Tagtstrom will get the goal, but it was hard to see. There was traffic in front. Good effort to get to the net and nice puck movement to get the puck there. Quick hands forced PC to scramble on the 6v5 with the goalie pulled.
MERRIMACK GOAL: Warriors tie up the game, 1-1. It was on a delayed penalty, so Merrimack will also head on its first power play of the night.
PC 1, MC 0 (16:49 2nd)
Game on in the second period. I didn't think the penalty on Welsher was a good call. Looked like Welsher just had his stick under the opponent's. If he came over the top, it's a slash. It was tough to see from our angle in the press box but I thought he came from underneath the opponent's stick.
End of 1: Providence 1, Merrimack 0
SOG: Providence 6, Merrimack 4
Attempts: Providence 12, Merrimack 11
The Friars get on the board with the late power-play goal. That's a tough one to swallow if you're Merrimack. The Warriors did a decent job on that PK up until the goal. The Friars had possession - Merrimack didn't get as many clears as the first PK - but the Warriors kept much of that possession held outside the dots.
PC 1, MC 0 (0:04 1st)
PROVIDENCE GOAL: The Friars get on the board and take a 1-0 lead with 4.0 left in the 1st period. A power-play goal for the Friars.
PC 0, MC 0 (1:37 1st)
Providence is headed back on the power play. Mac Welsher is headed to the box. The Friars are 0 for 1 on the PP tonight and Merrimack hasn't been on the PP yet.
PC 0, MC 0 (3:29 1st)
Last media timeout of the period. Merrimack has had its best pressure of the period over the last three minutes.
PC 0, MC 0 (6:30 1st)
Another media timeout. A very quick period thus far. Again, not much happening as far as scoring chances go. SOG are 6-2 Friars and Providence has an 11-5 attempt edge. Steven Jandric just had Merrimack's best opportunity of the period, and it didn't even result in a shot. He was edged off the puck by Taige Harding on a 1-on-1 as he cut to the net. But, that was the highest-pressure play Stauber has seen to this point.
PC 0, MC 0 (8:20 1st)
No goal called on the ice but the officials will review it. I didn't see anything that looked like a goal? So I'm not entirely sure what they're even reviewing. Everything leading up to Merrimack icing the puck was just some rimming the puck around the end wall, so it must have been a sequence that happened much before that. Either way, no goal called on the ice and confirmed via review.
PC 0, MC 0 (11:15 1st)
Good PK for the Warriors. Ollas made a clear himself at the end to kill off the rest of the time. We're almost nine minutes into the game and Merrimack has yet to record a shot on goal.
PC 0, MC 0 (13:55 1st)
Providence is headed on the power play after a media stoppage. Zach Uens tied up a stick in the neutral zone and he'll head to the box. Providence has one of the deadliest power plays in the nation.
PC 0, MC 0 (14:14 1st)
Providence has gone offside a handful of times to begin this game. Not much to report as far as scoring opportunities. A lot of play in the middle of the rink. Neither team has established a presence in the opponent's zone yet.
Merrimack and Providence are underway from Lawler Arena.