ORONO

Make no mistake about it.

The swift-skating and skillful University of Notre Dame from South Bend, Indiana, was clearly the better hockey team in Saturday night’s 4-2 Hockey East victory over the University of Maine at the Alfond Arena in Orono as evidenced by its 40-19 advantage in shots on goal.

But the Black Bears were in position to pull off the upset when they took a 2-0 lead on goals by Blaine Byron 26 seconds into the game and Brendan Robbins 3:03 into the second period.

Yet again, the Black Bears’ penchant for taking ill-advised penalties occurred as Notre Dame used power-play goals by Jordan Gross and Dylan Malmquist to tie it in the second period before Malmquist scored the even-strength game-winner 2:46 into the third period and Andrew Oglevie added an insurance goal with 3:39 remaining while the teams were at even-strength.

Gross’ goal came on a 5- on-3 power play, while Malmquist’s tying goal was in a 5-on-4.

Junior goalie Cal Petersen, making his 80th straight start, made 17 saves for Notre Dame (17-9-4 overall, 10-5-3 HE), while senior Matt Morris rejected 36 shots for the Black Bears (10- 17-3, 4-13-1).

The Irish were gifted the opportunity to cut into the deficit when rare simultaneous penalties were called on Robin Hoglund (charging) and Peter Housakos (tripping) at the 8:25 mark of the middle period.

It took just 19 seconds for them to capitalize when Anders Bjork found Gross in the middle of the slot and Gross one-timed a 25-foot blast past Morris.

UMaine had an eight-second 5-on-3 later and an ensuing 5-on-4 power play in the second period but couldn’t convert and then lost its one-man advantage when Schurhamer took a tripping call with 2:13 left in the period.

The Irish eventually went on the power play and Bobby Nardella snapped a perfect diagonal pass to Malmquist at the bottom of the left circle and he directed the puck past the helpless Morris.

UMaine will visit Merrimack for a pair next weekend, while Notre Dame entertains Providence for a two-game set.