Maine Hockey Journal

Black Bears no match for speedy Terriers

University of Maine's Blaine Byron (right) stops the puck from falling into the back of their net while Matt Morris (center) and Cam Brown try to support during their game against Boston University at Alfond Arena in Orono on Friday. (PHOTO: Ashley L. Conti | BDN)

University of Maine’s Blaine Byron (right) stops the puck from falling into the back of their net while Matt Morris (center) and Cam Brown try to support during their game against Boston University at Alfond Arena in Orono on Friday. (PHOTO: Ashley L. Conti | BDN)

The University of Maine Black Bears turned in a gritty, hard-working performance on Friday night, but Boston University’s speed and skill were simply too much for them as the Terriers earned an impressive 5-2 Hockey East victory at Alfond Arena.

The teams will play again at 7 p.m. Saturday at Agganis Arena in Boston.

The 11th-ranked Terriers improved to 12-7-4 overall and 6-4-3 in Hockey East while Maine fell to 5-14-6 and 2-7-2.

BU senior goalie Sean Maguire made 32 saves, and his teammates turned in a solid defensive effort in front of him. BU also had a decided advantage in offensive zone possession throughout the game.

Maine goalie Matt Morris finished with 29 stops including eight Grade-A’s.

Senior right wing Ahti Oksanen had a pair of goals and two assists and linemates Jordan Greenway and Matt Lane combined for four assists with Greenway picking up three of them.

“It was a very physical game. Both teams played hard. We didn’t have an answer for that [Lane] line and that was the difference in the game,” said Maine coach Red Gendron who added that BU was more successful sustaining its forecheck than his team.

“This was one of our better performances,” said BU coach David Quinn. “We did a great job pressuring the puck. We were a difficult team to play against tonight. This is not an easy place to play. Maine is well-coached and it’s no fun to play them. But I loved the way our guys stuck with it.”

Maine went 2-for-3 on the power play which represents just the second time this season the Black Bears have scored more than one power-play goal in a game. They scored two in the 5-4 loss to New Hampshire in Portland on Dec. 29.

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