Pregame: Banged up Warriors back at Alfond tonight hope to salvage Hockey East points

ORONO, Maine — The Merrimack men’s hockey team is back at Alfond Arena tonight trying to salvage points in a weekend series against the Maine Black Bears.

Maine dominated Game 1 of the series last night, 5-0.

The Warriors completely shook up their forward lines. Not a single line from last night is still together. Ryan O’Connell enters the lineup, and Caelan Fitzpatrick will sit for the first time this season. No word if there was an injury to Fitzpatrick last night.

Defensively, Cam Kungle is back in the lineup taking Nathan King’s spot. King was injured in last night’s game.

Merrimack has eight scratches, and at least six are injured: Mark Hillier, Michael Citara, Jack Richard, Hunter Wallace, King, and Ivan Zivlak.

Jordan Hughesman battled injuries earlier this year, and I’m not sure if he’s banged up again. As I wrote, I’m not sure about Fitzpatrick’s status, but it’s possible the Warriors don’t have a healthy scratch at the moment. Even if they do, they don’t have more than two.

Details

Puck Drop: 7:30 p.m. ET
Watch U.S.: ESPN+
Watch Int’l: International feed
Venue: Alfond Arena (5,712)
Location: Orono, Maine

Officials: Alex Berard (R), AJ Potvin (R), Trevor Disbennett, James McQuesten

Merrimack’s Lines

F Scratches: Hillier (inj), Hughesman, Citara (inj), Richard (inj), Fitzpatrick, Wallace (inj)
D Scratches: King (inj), Zivlak (inj)
G Scratches: None