The Final 20 Minutes Loom

Hockey
Michael King

2-1 Maine.

The penalties kept coming, but the goals are starting to come for both teams. The Black Bears started the scoring during 4-on-4 hockey at the 4:42 mark. Maine forward Josh Soares launched a centering pass to Bret Tyler directly in front of the net. Quick deflected the shot which flipped over his right shoulder into the net.

The Black Bear special teams struck again five minutes later. With Alex Berry in the penalty box for a holding/obstruction infraction, Mike Hamilton scored from the right side of the net. He simply flipped the puck toward Quick and the puck bounced off the goalie’s head into the net.

The Minutemen had by far they best scoring opportunity during the period of the period with a two man advantage for just over one minute. UMass had several good shots from the point, but Bishop either saved the shots or deflected the puck away from the crease in either case.

Not to be outdone, the Minutemen scored their first goal with less than two minutes left in the period. Kevin Jarman passed to Matt Anderson in the high slot. Anderson took a wrist shot, which was tipped by PJ Fenton into the net from the left side.

Maine will enjoy 1:08 worth of an extra man advantage to start the third period, as the Minutemen attempt to kill off the second half of a bench minor for too many men on the ice.

Although Bishop is playing very well in net, his restricted movement when the puck is out of the zone and stoppages in play indicate that his groin is still tender and not completely healed.