As the final seconds ticked away in NU’s 1-0 loss tonight, the Matthews Arena crowd of 1,576 started chanting “Bruce must go.”

Merrimack goalie Joe Exter made 26 stops and Brendan Clark scored on a redirect following a cross ice feed from Tony Johnson to lift the Warriors to another Hockey East win, their fourth in seven tries.

“Things were just hitting him,” a frustrated coach Bruce Crowder said of Exeter. “But he’s been playing very well. I thought our guys gave a nice effort tonight, but when you don’t score any goals, you’re not going to win a lot. You may tie some, but not win.”

NU had several chances in the second period including a terrific flurry in front including an Eric Ortlip backhand that Mike Ryan thought went in.

“Mike raised his arms, but that doesn’t mean a goal,” said Crowder.

A positive note for NU, the Huskies have been able to stop 27 of the last 28 power plays.

“The guys are playing well defensively,” said Keni Gibson. “They are letting me see the puck really well and have done a great job of checking. It’s frustrating but at the same time, we won a lot of close games last year. Things will turn around.”

NU will play Union next Saturday before taking a two week break.