ORONO — When the University of Maine played its season opener on Oct. 10 at the University of Alaska-Anchorage, the Black Bears looked lifeless, losing by two goals.

Two weeks later, “we’ve grown and we’ve improved,” Maine Coach Red Gendron said.

“But there’s always the qualifier: unless we win, it’s not good enough.”

Maine dominated play Saturday night, but could not bury enough chances in a 3-3 tie with Alaska-Anchorage, before 4,010 at Alfond Arena.

The Black Bears, who beat the Seawolves on Friday night, are now 1-4-1, while Alaska-Anchorage is 3-1-2.

Maine outshot the Seawolves 49-25 Saturday.

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“The Black Bears brought it again tonight,” Alaska-Anchorage Coach Matt Thomas said. “You saw Maine’s team come alive and find their stride … The team we saw in Alaska didn’t seem to have that jump.”

How about his team’s play?

“I liked the way we found a way to not lose two,” Thomas said.

In overtime, Maine had the best chance when the Black Bears took a flurry of shots. Seawolves goalie Oliver Mantha was sprawled on the ice, and Maine’s Eric Schurhamer had the puck. Before he could shoot, Alaska’s Brett Cameron knocked the goal off its standard, causing a whistle. Maine was awarded a penalty shot.

“It’s a veteran play by our guy,” Thomas said of Cameron’s penalty. “I’ll take that any time.”

Maine sophomore Blaine Byron was picked for the penalty shot. As he skated in and tried to make a move, he lost the puck off his stick and did not get a shot off.

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Near the end of the overtime, Alaska-Anchorage had a 2-on-1 but goalie Matt Morris made one of his 22 saves.

After starting the season 0-4, Maine settled for an unbeaten weekend.

“It was definitely an improvement,” said forward and captain Devin Shore. “Our ‘battle level’ and execution was much better … but we left one on the table. But we’re excited going forward.”

Maine took advantage of eight Alaska-Anchorage penalties, to score two power-play goals, as well as the short-hander.

“Our discipline was not very good,” Thomas said. “But I’ll say there were a lot of average calls against us.”

Alaska-Anchorage scored a power-play goal and a short-handed goal.

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Maine took a 1-0 first-period lead on Ben Hutton’s goal with a 5-on-3 advantage.

Maine outshot the Seawolves 24-13 in the first period and kept up the attack in the second. The Black Bears looked in control, getting their seventh power play of the game, at 14:04, on Austin Coldwell’s interference.

In a flash, the momentum changed. Alaska-Anchorage cleared and Dylan Hubbs beat the Black Bears to the loose puck, skating in front of Morris and beating him between the pads, at 15:07.

Then, with the penalty over, Coldwell came out of the box and got the puck, skating into the right circle. He looked back, as if waiting for reinforcements, and then fired a shot through the pads of a surprised Morris, for a 2-1 Seawolves lead at 16:13.

Maine needed a lift and got its seventh power play. The Black Bears won the faceoff. Freshman Malcom Hayes skated into the circle and fired, tying the game at 19:11.

Alaska-Anchorage began the third period on the power play. Byron got a turnover in the neutral zone, and skated in alone. Skating to his left, Byron faked as if he was going to skate across the crease, but then shot short side, scoring at 1:20.

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But the Seawolves were still on the power play and Scott Allen scored on a one-timer at 1:50, tying the game 3-3.

Kevin Thomas can be reached at 791-6411 or at:

kthomas@pressherald.com

Twitter: ClearTheBases


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