The Lamoriello Trophy is heading to the Pine Tree State for the primary time since 2004.
Led by tremendous sophomores Albin Boija and Josh Nadeau, the Black Bears defeated UConn, 5-2, to seize the Hockey East match championship Saturday evening on the TD Backyard.
Followers from Bangor to Bar Harbor to Boston celebrated the win for second-seeded Maine (24-7-6).
Boija made 27 saves to decelerate the assault of fourth-seeded UConn (22-11-4) and swift-skating Joey Muldowney, who entered the evening having scored seven targets and 9 factors in his earlier three video games. Muldowney’s 11-game level streak got here to an finish.
Scoring each of UConn’s targets was Taylor Heaslip. Maine’s closing two targets within the third interval have been tallied by Taylor Makar, together with a backhander into an empty web with 1:25 left to seal the title.
Boija’s classmate, Nadeau, scored the aim of the match to make it 2-0 within the second interval. Heck, it may be the aim of the 12 months.
With the Black Bears on the ability play, Boija nudged the puck to his left. Nadeau collected it on the faceoff circle and sped up ice, skating previous one Huskie. However three remained. No downside. Nadeau danced inside UConn’s zone, minimize between two skaters and, as he was going proper, uncorked a wrist shot contained in the left put up.
Veteran school hockey observers could have thought again to the times of the likes of BU’s Tony Amonte when witnessing the daring rush.
Harrison Scott elevated Maine’s result in 3-0 later within the second.
Maine broke the ice at 12:47 of the opening interval on a tally by Lynden Breen, who broke in two-on-one and despatched a wrist shot between the pads of Tyler Muszelik following a cross from Nadeau.
UConn goaltender Callum Tung, who backboned the Huskies previous BU in Friday’s semifinal, appeared to undergo an damage within the recreation and Muszelik (19 saves) bought the beginning towards the Black Bears.
Down 3-0 getting into the third interval, UConn bought on the board when Heaslip pocketed his first of the evening. However Makar answered together with his first six minutes later. An obvious UConn aim was disallowed after a video evaluation for offsides, however Heaslip’s second gave the Huskies some life. However the Huskies fell in need of successful their first Hockey East playoff title.
Six groups will symbolize Hockey East within the 16-team nationwide match, an eye-popping quantity.
Becoming a member of Maine and UConn will probably be BC, BU, Windfall and UMass. The sphere will probably be unveiled Sunday (3 p.m.) on ESPNU.
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