ELMIRA, NY– In their last trip and weekend match-up against Elmira, Maryland was looking to come closer to another playoff clinching situation. After a solid Friday game, the hockey deities were not kind to Maryland in Saturday leading to a split of the weekend.
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 21st, 2025: BLACK BEARS (2) at Elmira (0): After the fireworks from Maryland Mayhem weekend, the Black Bears and Elmira started the game a little more physical than most games. Each team had their fair share of offensive chances, especially with each team getting a power play late in the frame, but neither team could find the back of the net through the first 20 minutes.
In the second frame, both sides had early power play opportunities, but still were looking for the opening goal. Maryland had a bit of a hiccup in the middle part of the frame with some mishandling of the puck almost turning into an Elmira goal, but Marko Bilic was able to keep the puck out of the net to keep the game scoreless. Moments later, the Black Bears would get on the board with Isac Nielsen getting his fourth goal in three games, netting his 18th of the year off a nice passing play between Mason Stenger and Harrison Smith to put the Black Bears up 1-0. While Maryland had another power play later in the frame, they would go into the second intermission up by one.
For the third period, Kareem El-Bashir got some insurance on the board, driving down the right side and powering to the net to pot his 16th goal of the season to make it 2-0 for Maryland. The Black Bears did have some penalty issues towards the middle of the frame, but the penalty kill was having a block party, making sure no chances got through to Bilic. The chances that did get through, Bilic was equal to the task and was able to secure his second straight shutout and third of the season in a 2-0 Maryland win.
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 22nd, 2025: BLACK BEARS (1) at Elmira (2): The Black Bears got things started early, as Harrison Smith got his eighth of the year off a rebound from Sebastian Speck to make it 1-0 under two minutes into the game. Maryland kept their pressure on, putting plenty of chances onto the Elmira net, but couldn’t find another goal in the first 20 minutes. Marko Bilic wasn’t tested much, but was solid in his crease keeping it a 1-0 game through one period of play.
Elmira got on the board 3:38 in with Charlie Vincent scoring his fifth after a turnover in the neutral zone to tie the game. Maryland got themselves into some penalty troubles but the penalty kill was coming up big to make sure that things kept away from Bilic. The offense had some chances, along with some power play time– but couldn’t break the tie after 40 minutes of play.
The Black Bears pushed hard to start the third, but couldn’t find the back of the net in the early going. Penalties reared their ugly heads throughout the third and it finally caught up to them with a two-man disadvantage when Jett Ortwell put home his 13th of the season with under seven minute remaining in the period. Maryland tried to push for the equalizer, but due to blocks and nets coming off during rush, they came up just short and dropped Saturday’s affair 2-1.
The Black Bears wrap up their three weekend road trip with a voyage out to Lewiston to take on the Nordiques. All the games can be seen on NAHL TV or at the Chesepiooc Real Ale Brewery for the away game watch parties.
Clutch And Crab Hockey 