BRUNSWICK — Bowdoin entered Saturday’s rivalry matchup with Colby looking for its first victory over the Mules since Dec. 5, 2015.

The Polar Bears had come close earlier this season, with a 3-3 tie in a Dec. 5 meeting at Waterville.

Despite a late Bowdoin rally, a third period power-play goal was the difference as Colby stretched its unbeaten streak in the rivalry to six with a 3-2 win.

“It comes down to a bounce and they got that last bounce,” said Bowdoin College coach Jamie Dumont. “In these games you know how they are, the last game was 3-3 this one’s 3-2, and it just comes down to who can make that next play and they did.”

“These games here anything can happen,” said Colby coach Blaise MacDonald. “It’s such a privilege for these players to have the opportunity to play in these games. It has the opportunity to create great memories. Bowdoin makes Colby a better hockey team for sure and we’d like to think we help make them a little bit better too.”

The first period was tight through the first 10 minutes, with both teams starting the rivalry game with hard checking but limited chances. Michael Brown had the best scoring chance early for the Polar Bears. Brown stole the puck in the neutral zone and walked in alone, pushing a backhand attempt just beyond the post.

The Mules struck first on a second chance opportunity. Alex Zafonte made a spectacular sliding save to rob Logan Clarke of a sure goal. With the Polar Bears unable to clear, Thomas Stahlhuth picked up the loose puck and found Justin Grillo alone on the back door with 5:07 left in the first.

“They got us running around a little bit,” said Dumont. “They had a pretty good gameplan to get us running around and they executed well and we came up a little bit too late at the end.”

The Mules added to the lead on the power play just 1:23 later. Nick O’Connor walked in from the point and ripped a shot over the shoulder of Zafonte. Bowdoin grabbed some momentum back before the break as Zach Hale was sent off for slashing with 15 seconds left in the period. Bradley Ingersoll took a pass through the slot from Albert Washco and ripped a shot through the pads of Mack Burton to cut the lead to 2-1 with three seconds remaining.

Despite trading power play chances, neither team found the back of the net in the second period. Grillo nearly notched his second goal, ringing a shot off the post, on Colby’s first power play 1:19 into the period.

Bowdoin responded shortly after the penalty expired. Pat Geary cut to the net behind the Colby defense, but Burton closed the pads on him. Ingersoll had a second chance on the ensuing scramble that led to Brian Sanzone getting sent off for hooking.

Bowdoin failed to capitalize on the power play, but had a late penalty carry over into the start of the third as Spencer Hewson was sent off for slashing.

The Polar Bears were again unable to solve Burton, who was making a spot start in net, despite carrying play in the second period. Bowdoin outshot Colby, 13-5, in the second period.

“I’m so happy for (Burton),” said MacDonald. “He’s a senior and this is only his second start ever. Our starting goaltender (Andrew Tucci) came down with a really bad virus and missed the last couple days and hasn’t been able to get on the ice. Funny things happen when you get opportunities and I was so happy for Mack to have that opportunity.”

“The shots were pretty good in our favor but we didn’t have enough secondary looks where we need to get in there and kind of get ugly,” said Dumont. “There were flurries in the second period that if we would’ve hung around the net a little bit more I think we would have got rewarded.”

Bowdoin was unable to even the score with the remaining time on Hewson’s penalty. Washco had Bowdoin’s best chance minutes later, cutting to the middle of the Colby zone and lifting a shot just over the crossbar.

Colby extended the lead on the power play with 6:01 remaining. MacDonald used a timeout to talk to his power play when Bowdoin’s Cam Berube was sent off for holding. The Mules worked the puck around to Stahlhuth, who ripped a shot over the glove of Zafonte for a 3-1 lead.

“We had some chances to capitalize, but they did a really nice job of putting out the fires,” said Dumont. “They capitalized on their power plays when they needed to. We started the second and the third period with power plays that we didn’t capitalize on. That’s the difference in the game.”

Bowdoin found life on the power play late in the period when Michael Thomas was called for interference with 1:30 remaining. With the goalie pulled for a 6-on-4 advantage, Washco’s shot from the top of the slot found its way through a mass of players and in with 47 seconds remaining.

However, the comeback fell short as Colby weathered the storm with the Bowdoin’s net empty again for the extra attacker.

Colby improved to 7-7-3 and 4-6-2 in NESCAC play, while Bowdoin fell to 6-10-2 (3-8-1 NESCAC). Stahlhuth was given the Peter Schuh Memorial Award, presented annually to the most valuable player in the Colby-Bowdoin game played at Sidney J. Watson Arena.

Burton had 29 saves for the Mules, while Zafonte stopped 24 in the Bowdoin net.

 

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