PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Excruciating might be the proper adjective to describe Maine’s 3-2 loss to 15th-ranked Providence in a Hockey East game Friday night.

Jake Walman’s power-play goal with 1:53 left in regulation gave the Friars (15-8-4, 7-6-2 Hockey East) their sixth consecutive victory overall and their eighth straight against Maine (10-14-3, 4-10-1) at Schneider Arena. The Friars are 12-0-1 versus Maine in the teams’ last 13 meetings.

The game appeared headed into overtime before Maine’s Peter Houskas was penalized for hooking at 17:26.

On the power play, Walman ripped a slap shot from the high slot that eluded goalie Rob McGovern (33 saves).

Despite the loss, Maine Coach Red Gendron refused to dwell on the negatives.

“All I want to talk about is the positives – about how hard we played down 1-0 going into the third,” Gendron said. “We didn’t win the game. But the game is 60 minutes long so we’re not going to focus on one mistake or anything like that.

“We played good hockey all night, but the other team is pretty good, too. They had the better of it for portions of the first and second periods, but we came out down 1-0 and kept fighting. It was a positive. We’re not happy we didn’t win the game. Efforts like that are what we need to be successful.”

Gendron also brushed off Maine’s lack of success against Providence.

“It’s nothing,” he said. “They’ve won those games and we haven’t.”

Maine tied it 1-1 on Pat Holway’s power-play goal at 2:18 of the third. Ryan Smith slid a pass to Holway at the left point for a slap shot that beat Hayden Hawkey (29 saves) up high.

The Black Bears gained their first lead at 3:17 when Mark Hamilton passed across the crease to Chase Pearson, who was next to the right post and flipped the puck into the net.

But Providence countered with the tying goal at 8:36 when Erik Foley sent a pass to Josh Wilkins, who scored with a snap shot from the right circle.

“I think we were positive, and even with adversity when they tied it up we remained positive,” senior captain Cam Brown said. “Even when they went up, we stayed positive and thought we could do it.”

Considering Maine outshot Providence 17-8 in the third period, the prevailing sentiment was the Black Bears were frustrated. But that wasn’t the case in Brown’s opinion.

“I don’t think we were that frustrated,” Brown said. “I think we know we played well. We doubled them in shots (in the third). It’s hockey. Mistakes are going to be made.

“Sometimes you’re not going to capitalize when you get chances. That’s how it’s going to be.”

The Friars had a goal disallowed midway through the second period, but Providence grabbed a 1-0 lead nine seconds after Maine killed off a penalty.

Foley pounced on a loose puck just outside the blue line, skated in unmolested from the right wing and stuffed the puck under McGovern at 17:02.

Ironically, the best thing for the Black Bears is that they return to Schneider tonight for the second game of the series.

“We’re excited already for (tonight),” Brown said. “Just have a short memory and come back ready to go.”

Copy the Story Link