LEWISTON, ME– After a split in Odenton, the Maryland Black Bears were looking to get a leg up in Game 3 of the East Division Semifinal. Try as they might, the breaks didn’t go the Black Bears way and they were pushed to the brink for a second season in Maine after a 3-0 loss.
The Black Bears looked to keep their momentum going after Game 2, but the key thing was to keep Maine at bay as they hosted their first game of this series. The Black Bears were able to weather the storm in the first ten minutes of the period, with Marko Bilic making key saves and Mason Stenger leading the offensive rush from the blue line. The penalty kill stayed solid, with the power play trying to create chances, but it was a scoreless game after the first. Maryland outshooting Maine with a 9-6 count.
The second period saw the Black Bears create more chances with their offense, but couldn’t find the back of the net. The play in the neutral zone favored the Black Bears, as they transitioned the puck well from their defensive end into the offensive side of things well, but still couldn’t break the ice. It was a block party weekend with the Black Bears selling out their bodies for the better of the team to keep pressure away from Bilic. Maryland had a late ter to keep the pressure away from Bilic. Maryland ended the period with a two-man advantage for 15 seconds, but would start the third with 1:45 on the advantage.
Maryland couldn’t set up on the two-man advantage at the start of the period, which led to Maine killing the power play. As the penalties expired, Maryland had a hiccup in their own zone leading to Kellan Murphy getting his second of the playoffs off a cross-ice pass from Zion Green to open the scoring. While Maryland had the power play, Maine was able to make it 2-0 as Damon Myers got through the defense and pushed it past Bilic to make 2-0 halfway through the third.Ethan Wongus would get an empty-netter to make it 3-0 for Maine to give them the 2-1 series lead.
The Black Bears head to an elimination game for a second straight season in Maine, with all the action on NAHL TV. Also, the away watch-party at Chesepiooc Real Ale Brewery in Crofton will happen for the 7 PM puck drop.
Clutch And Crab Hockey 