CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Undisciplined.

Disorganized.

Out of sync.

Pick a way to describe the first 20 minutes of the University of Maine hockey team’s 4-0 loss at Boston College. Any of the above is an apt illustration.

“We didn’t come ready to play,” Maine defenseman Josh Van Dyk said. “They’re fast, and they took it to us and we played soft. We have to come in ready to play on Sunday.

“We weren’t disciplined, and they capitalized on their chances. It set the tone for us, right off the bat. We can’t do that to ourselves.”

BC ended Maine’s six-game unbeaten streak on Friday night at Conte Forum, handing the Black Bears their first loss since Oct. 15, when Michigan State beat them 3-2.

Against BC, the Black Bears (6-2-3, 4-1-1 Hockey East) slogged through the first period, taking four penalties and giving up a pair of goals in the final five minutes. Maine also failed to convert a golden opportunity halfway through the period when BC goalie John Muse stopped Gustav Nyquist’s penalty shot.

“Obviously, it could have been a whole different game had I scored there, and you want to score there,” said Nyquist, whose team lost despite outshooting the Eagles 32-24.

Held by Joe Whitney as he went in on a breakaway, Nyquist was awarded a penalty shot at 8:58 of the first. It was easily Maine’s best scoring chance of the night, but Muse (32 saves) made the save with his right pad.

“I tried to make a move and make him slide a little to the right,” Nyquist said. “He kind of bit on it, but I didn’t really get it up. Muse made a great save.”

With Maine’s Mark Anthoine penalized for elbowing at 13:23 and Mike Cornell penalized for cross-checking 50 seconds later, BC left wing Paul Carey took a pass from the corner and tipped a shot past goalie Dan Sullivan (14 saves) to give the Eagles (7-4, 5-3) a 1-0 lead.

The Black Bears went on the power play with 1:02 left in the first after a hooking penalty against Cam Atkinson, but Brian Gibbons gave BC a 2-0 lead when Sullivan misplayed the puck behind the net, allowing Atkinson to flick it in as Sullivan scrambled to get back.

Maine failed to convert a five-on-three power play late in the second period after Gibbons (elbowing) and Patch Alber (hooking) were penalized 16 seconds apart. Maine only put three shots on Muse during the two-man advantage and finished 0 for 7 on the power play. Boston College was 2 for 4.

“They capitalized on their power play and we didn’t, and that’s a big part of their game right there,” Nyquist said.

Maine found its step in the third, outshooting the Eagles 15-7. Shawn Sirman (six saves) replaced Sullivan at 7:13 after Pat Mullane gave BC a 4-0 lead.

NOTES: Maine defenseman Jeff Dimmen injured his left ankle 20 seconds into the second period when he crashed into the goal after being tripped. Maine Coach Tim Whitehead said Dimmen will sit out of Sunday’s game. … Biddeford’s Brian Dumoulin had two assists for Boston College.

Staff Writer Rachel Lenzi can be reached at 791-6415 or at:

rlenzi@pressherald.com

 

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