Sixty shots. Fifty-seven saves.
It’s usually the making of a successful two-game set for a hockey club, but it was more than enough for the University of Maine to secure a win and tie over the Huskies.
NU senior goalie Keni Gibson continues to be the bedrock for NU (9-13-4, 5-8-3 Hockey East), as his performances in both the team’s 1-0 loss on Friday and 2-2 tie on Saturday at Alfond Arena in Orono, Maine will not soon be forgotten.
“Keni has been the foundation of this team,” said Northeastern coach Bruce Crowder. “He’s had a tremendous year, and he needs to continue to be strong. He’s a tough kid to beat. Our defense has been doing a better job in front of him; they’re clearing out in front of the net pretty good and doing a pretty good job of letting him see the front shot.”
Over 5,000 Black Bears fans awaited the Huskies on both nights, as a hostile environment played a huge factor in both contests, as it always has at Alfond, Crowder said.
“We really want to try and go out and play better every game we play,” the coach said. “Saturday, we didn’t get the chances we wanted, and that was a disappointing thing. The second night we went out and generated offense. We generated enough that we could have made a difference in the game.”
Maine (14-8-5, 9-3-3) grabbed an early 2-0 lead in the first period on two tough goals for NU. Keith Johnson was alone in front of Gibson on a power play goal, while John Ronan, after immediately exiting the penalty box, received a pass from Mathew Deschamps and turned a breakaway into a strong opening lead for the Black Bears.
“Being down 2-0 was tough, they got a power play goal and the kid gets out of the penalty box and the next thing you know he scores a second one,” Crowder said. “But we battled back, and pretty much took the game away from them.”
Husky junior Mike Morris scored his team-leading 12th goal of the season late in the second period to start the comeback, with Tim Judy and Jason Guerriero assisting on the play.
Then 9:43 into the third, NU continued to put the pressure on Maine. Judy set up another score when he found Bryan Esner for a breakaway to tie the game.
“You never want to say just ‘Hey we got a point,'” Crowder said. “But at the same time, the hole we dug ourselves where you get down 2-0, before you know it, it could be six, or seven-nothing, playing in Maine. At the same time, you go out there and get a point, any chance you can. I can’t say enough about the way the kids competed.”
Judy, named the first star of the game, played one of the Huskies’ most important roles in perfecting two well-timed passes.
“No one competes like Judy,” Crowder said of the 5-foot-10, 180-pound senior defenseman. “Pound for pound, he’s one of the toughest kids to play against out there. If he was 6-2, 215, he probably wouldn’t be here, he’d be at the next level. He brings a lot of enthusiasm and zip to his game. The way he plays, he’s one of the best.”
NU had a chance in overtime, as Black Bear Michel Leveille was called for a five-minute major for spearing Jared Mudryk just 24 seconds into the extra frame.
Mudryk was sent to the penalty box a minute later for obstruction-interference, but neither team could take advantage.
Friday, the Huskies seemed to be at ease at Alfond, as both the NU defense and Gibson, who was named HE Defensive Player of the Week, held the Black Bears on their home ice for 54:37.
Mike Lundin broke the 0-0 tie in the third period, after Deschamps took the rebound of a Ben Murphy shot and set it up for Lundin.
Judy was crucial again for the Huskies, as he single-handedly prevented a goal halfway through the first period. The Black Bears had the power play, and after numerous shots went straight to Gibson. A stick-side save by the netminder on Troy Barnes left him out of position.
Judy skated in, however, and prevented a goal in the crease from Derek Damon.
The defenseman then came to Gibson’s aid again on an NU power play in the second. Leveille broke out and seemed to have command, skating down toward Gibson. Judy came rushing behind, however, and took down Leveille to prevent a strong Black Bear opportunity. Judy suffered a tripping penalty, but the score remained at 0-0.
