Merrimack can't solve Maine in series finale
The Black Bears scored 17 seconds into the game and rolled to a 6-0 win with three power-play goals
ORONO, Maine — It was another night to forget for the Merrimack men’s hockey team in Orono.
Maine’s Ross Mitton scored 17 seconds into Saturday’s game, propelling the Black Bears to a 6-0 victory.
Merrimack allowed the first goal on Friday night 70 seconds into the first period.
“At 5-on-5, we started to play uphill again,” Merrimack coach Scott Borek said. “It’s tough, too, because we start the game with our guy getting his stick broken in half, and it leads to their first goal. It’s tough especially for our team, going through what we’re going through right now. But that’s where we are right now. What can go wrong does go wrong. On the very first shift, we had the puck, and our guy got his stick broken in half, no call, and then they came the other way. That wasn’t the difference in the game, but it’s just an example. Nothing is going our way right now.”
Special teams were the difference on Saturday. The Warriors went 0 for 4 on the power play, and Maine went 3 for 6, including a seven-minute power play in the second period after a scrum behind the net. Defenseman Trevor Griebel was given a five-minute facemasking major, a game misconduct, and a two-minute minor for roughing.
“I liked our effort 5-on-5, but I didn’t like our discipline,” Borek said. “The seven-minute penalty hurt us. If we take a hard penalty or something, just from playing hard, that doesn’t bother me.”
Maine had 20 power-play shots and the Warriors mustered just one on their three power plays.
At 5-on-5, it was more even with the Black Bears outshooting the Warriors 18-17.
“It’s not lost on me that we played a very good team,” Borek said. “At 5-on-5 it was more even. They still carried the play at 5-on-5, but we were in a decent spot there. It turns into a special teams battle, and that’s not our game right now.”
The Warriors also continued to get nailed with injuries. Colby Enns and Antonio Venuto both left last night’s game. If they aren’t able to play against UConn next week, and none of the current injuries recover by Friday, the Warriors could be forced to enter Friday’s game against the Huskies without a full lineup.
“We maybe lost two guys, which if we did, that could be devastating for us right now,” said Borek.
Nils Wallstrom made his first start for the Warriors and he was relieved by Ryan Keyes in the third period.
“I feel bad for our goaltenders,” Borek said. “I mainly left Nils in for as long as I did because he hasn’t played a lot where he was hurt. He’s a great kid, he doesn’t get rattled, and I wanted him to get ice time. Nils is an excellent goalie. He’s going to be fine. We need to do a better job in front of him.”
