#13 MEN'S HOCKEY FALLS TO #16 MAINE, 6-3

ORONO, Maine – 16th-ranked Maine scored three goals in the second and third periods to erase a 2-0 deficit and capture a 6-3 win over the 13th-ranked University of New Hampshire men’s hockey team on Saturday night in Hockey East action at Alfond Arena.

UNH falls to 13-10-4, 12-5-3 in Hockey East play, while Maine improves to 14-9-3, 11-6-2 HE. The Wildcats still hold a three point lead in first place in Hockey East over second-place Boston College and Maine.

Trailing 2-0 entering the second period, the Black Bears erased the two-goal deficit and built a 3-2 lead with a three-goal second period. The first of the goals coming on the power play at 6:46 as Brian Flynn scored with assists from Adam Shemansky and David deKastrozza. Maine scored the equalizer just 57 seconds later on a goal by Robbie Dee at 7:43 with assists from Jeff Dimmen and Spencer Abbott. Both teams had opportunities, but it was Theo Andersson scoring the go-ahead goal at 18:29 of the period. The Black Bears held an 18-14 shot advantage in the period.

Maine extended the lead to 4-2 with a power play goal at 4:36 of the third that came just two seconds before the penalty was set to expire. Joey Diamond scored the eventual game-winning goal with assists from Jeff Dimmen and Andersson. New Hampshire narrowed the lead to 4-3 as Phil DeSimone (East Amherst, N.Y.) scored on a back-handed shot with assists from Paul Thompson (Derry, N.H.) and Bobby Butler (Marlboro, Mass.) at 9:19. The Wildcats continued to put the pressure on Maine, but that all-out pressure created an odd-man rush that ended with a Brian Flynn goal at 18:22. Gustav Nyquist assisted on that goal and added an empty-netter of his own at 19:18 of the period. Maine held an 11-7 shot advantage in the period and a 40-30 edge for the game.

The Wildcats struck first for the second-straight night as John Henrion (Holden, Mass.) carried the puck into the offensive zone and scored on a one-timer from the right circle. The goal was assisted by Kevin McCarey (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) and Mike Beck (Long Beach, Calif.) at 8:27 of the first period. UNH doubled its lead as Peter LeBlanc (Hamilton, Ontario) score from the center of the ice, set up by a nifty give and go move by linemate Stevie Moses (Leominster, Mass.) at 18:30 of the period. Brett Kostolansky (Denver, Colo.) was also credited with an assist on the goal. The Wildcats carried the two goal lead into the break, despite being outshot 11-9.

UNH netminder Brian Foster (Pembroke, N.H.) stopped 34 shots including 15 in the middle frame, but falls to 12-10-4. Maine’s Scott Darling turned away 27 shots and improves to 14-3-3.

Maine was 2-4 on the power play, while the Wildcats were 0-4 in power play opportunities.

UNH returns to action on Friday, Feb. 12 as it plays host to Providence College (7 p.m.). The game is the second annual Operation Hat Trick night. For more information on Operation Hat Trick and all UNH athletic information including links to tickets, live stats, live audio, live video and more log onto www.UNHWildcats.com.