Final Score: #7 Maine 5, #14 Vermont 1 | Box Score
ORONO, Maine - Maine scored four power-play goals in the second period as the seventh-ranked Black Bears defeated No. 14 Vermont 5-1 in front of a crowd of 5,445 at Alfond Sports Arena on Friday night. Freshman Jay Anctil (Wolfeboro, N.H.) scored UVM's only goal in the third period and Vermont fell to 15-10-4 overall and 10-6-4 in Hockey East with the loss. Maine improved to 18-8-2 and 11-9-1 in league play with the win.
"We were not great from the net out on the penalty kill," Vermont head coach Kevin Sneddon said. "One goal was a deflection and one went off our shin pad and went in but we just weren't in the shooting lanes. We did some good things 5-on-5 but our special teams play wasn't there tonight."
The Black Bears entered the game with the nation's best power-play unit at 24.4-percent while the Catamounts penalty kill was first in the country at 91-percent. Maine's four power-play goals were the most against UVM in a game all season. In fact, Vermont entered the night having allowed just a total of 14 power-play goals in the first 28 games of the year.
The Black Bears led 1-0 at the end of the first period after an even strength goal by senior Josh Soares at 16:41.
In the second period sophomore defenseman Matt Lundin notched two power-play goals. Junior Keenan Hopson and senior Mike Hamilton also added man-up goals for Maine.
Hopson's score at 3:47 of the second period gave the Black Bears a 2-0 lead.
Then Lundin's first of two goals came at 7:57 of the period off a deflection. That made the score 3-0 in favor of Maine.
Midway through the second period, during a 5-minute major and game misconduct for hitting from behind against the Catamounts, the Black Bears would add two more scores. Lundin recorded his sixth goal of the year at 9:40 and Hamilton's seventh tally this year came at 11:56.
Vermont freshman goalie Mike Spillane (Bow, N.H.) replaced junior Joe Fallon (Bemidji, Minn.) in net after Maine took the 5-0 lead.
The Catamounts made it a 5-1 contest on the first goal of Anctil's career at 11:03 of the third period. Senior Andy Corran (Burlington, Vt.) setup the score with a pass from behind the net. Senior Tom Collingham (Yonkers, N.Y.) also assisted on the play.
Maine freshman goalie Dave Wilson made his first career start in place of the injured Ben Bishop and made 32 saves to earn his first career win. Fallon finished with 14 saves and Spillane turned away all 13 shots he faced for UVM.
Vermont faces Maine again on Saturday at 8:00pm at Alfond Sports Arena. The game will be televised on CSTV.
GAME NOTES: Tonight's game was televised on NESN and marked the 14th time the men's hockey team has been televised this season ... Corran's assist was his first point of the season ... Vermont outshot Maine 33-32 ... The Catamounts went 0-for-6 on the power play while Maine went 4-for-8.