BOSTON — The University of Maine men’s ice hockey team advanced to the Hockey East semifinals with a 2-1 win over Merrimack last Sunday night in game three of their best-of-three series.
Brice O’Connor scored the game-winning goal midway through the second period and the Maine defense did the rest.
The Black Bears, tied for 10th in the nation in the latest USA Today/ USA Hockey Magazine Poll and 11th in the USCHO.com poll, improved to 22-12-3 on the season.
Boston University, which won its Hockey East quarterfinal series with New Hampshire in double overtime on Sunday evening, will be Maine’s opponent. Boston College and Providence will meet in the other semifinal.
Maine is making its first trip to the Hockey East semifinals since the 2010 season. That year, Maine also played Boston University in the semifinals and defeated the Terriers 5-2 to advance to the title game where it fell to BC in overtime. Maine has faced Boston University five times in the Hockey East semifinals and has a perfect 5-0 record against the Terriers. Overall, Maine has a record of 14-5 in the Hockey East semifinals.
Both Hockey East semifinals games, along with the title game, will be broadcast on NESN and the NBC Sports Network.
The Black Bears are 2- 1 against Boston University this season. Maine dropped the first game of the seasonseries against Boston University 5-1 back on Dec. 10, before sweeping the two game series at Agganis Arena. Maine took game one 4-2 and completed the weekend sweep with a 3-1 victory the follow night.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
