Merrimack can't hold onto lead at Providence
The Friars scored three unanswered goals in the final 23 minutes to defeat Merrimack 3-2 on Friday night
PROVIDENCE — Providence scored three unanswered goals in the final 23 minutes to defeat Merrimack 3-2 on Friday night at Schneider Arena.
The Warriors led 2-0 in a pair of goals from freshman Caden Cranston.
“We were leading and we made some loose plays that let them back in the game,” Merrimack coach Scott Borek said. “I liked our start. I liked the rest of our third period after the power-play goal. We got into them, we were physical and got to their net. We did a lot of things we wanted to do well, but we didn’t do everything well. To beat a team like Providence, you have to do everything well. I hope we take some confidence from it though, because we grew today.”
Late second period swing changed momentum
Shortly after Clint Levens cut Merrimack’s lead to 2-1, it appeared that defenseman Zach Bookman scored to give the Warriors back a two-goal lead. However, after a lengthy review, the play was ruled offside and the goal was wiped off the board.
Austen May was still called for hooking on that play, so despite the goal being negated, the Warriors went on the power play.
However, Graham Gamache split the D and scored a shorthanded goal with 48 seconds left in the second period to tie the game.
“I’m sure they got the call right because they checked it,” Borek said. “But no doubt, that’s a huge swing. It could be 3-1, and we weren’t controlling the game, but we were on the right side of it. We get the goal called back and then you feel like you have a little bit of life still with the power play, but to give up that goal, that was really difficult.”
Cranston scores two more
Cranston now has back-to-back two-goal games for the Warriors. The freshman from New York has six points (4g-2a) in his last five games.
“He’s shooting,” Borek said. “He’s had a lot of chances but he wasn’t shooting a lot. Now he’s shooting more.”
Cranston was on an all-freshman line on Friday with Ryan O’Connell and Caelan Fitzpatrick.
“I like that line a lot,” Borek said. “They play hard, they turn pucks over, and they had a lot of offensive-zone time.”
Changes going into Saturday?
Borek liked much of what he saw from the Warriors on Friday night. But, heading into Saturday’s rematch at Lawler Arena, he’d like to see the Warriors limit Providence’s transition.
“We need to be more decisive in the middle of the rink,” he said. “We need to get pucks deep better. We have to limit their transition game by making it difficult on their D. We need to better at getting the puck below the goal line and getting after it.”
Puck drop on Saturday is 7 p.m.
Standings Update
The Warriors remained No. 8 in the Hockey East standings and maintained a five-point lead on home ice in the first round of the league playoffs courtesy of Vermont and Northeastern losing on Friday night.
The Warriors trail Providence by five points for fifth place (the final first-round bye position).
Merrimack (13-17-1): 1-1-0--2
Providence (19-8-5): 0-2-1--3
First Period: 1. MC Caden Cranston 6 (Ryan O’Connell, Caelan Fitzpatrick), ev, 5:18.
Second Period: 2. MC Caden Cranston 7 (Ivan Zivlak), ev, 7:25; 3. PC Clint Levens 3 (John Mustard, Guillame Richard), ev, 16:43; 4. PC Graham Gamache 10 (Logan Will), sh, 19:12.
Third Period: 5. PC Tanner Adams 11 (Hudson Malinowski, Austen May), pp, 1:52.
Shots: Merrimack 7-13-11-31; Providence 10-12-10--32
Saves: MC Lundgren (56:47) 29/32; PC Svedeback (60:00) 29/31
Power Play: MC 0 for 2; PC 1 for 2
Pen-PIM: MC 2-4; PC 2-4
Attendance: 2,706