BLAINE, MN– After a thrilling Game 1, the Black Bears looked to withstand the pressure from Lone Star in Game 2. The cardiac Black Bears did it again with a come-from-behind victory in overtime, sending them to the championship game on Tuesday with a 5-4 victory.
Knowing Lone Star was going to have some pushback, the Black Bears withstood the pressure with Ryan Denes and the defense getting keep blocks in the early part of the game to weather the storm. At the middle part of the frame, the Black Bears got the first power play of the game and cashed in with Game 1 hero Ryan Franks putting home the opening goal to make it 1-0 Maryland. Penalty trouble reared its ugly head for Maryland, as a two-man disadvantage allowed Leo Isaksson to get the game-tying goal late in the frame to put the teams into the intermission knotted at one.
Lone Star used their momentum into the second period, creating a turnover behind the net with Vinny Capano netting the go-ahead goal to make it 2-1. Maryland kept pushing towards the net, but couldn’t avoid the blockade Lone Star had put in their own zone. Penalties continued and on a very suspect call against Maryland, Lone Star was able to captialize on an offensive zone face off with Christian Venticinque putting home a shot from the slot to make it 3-1 Lone Star. Maryland continued to push, but couldn’t get on the scoresheet before the second intermission.
After being in this position the last two games, the Black Bears knew their role and dug deep to try and find a way. It started under three minutes into the period with Will Esterbrooks ripping a one-timer with the two-man advantage to make it a one-goal game. Maryland continued to press and it wasn’t until close to the midway point when Brady Anes was able to find a rebound in front of the net to tie the game at three. However, Lone Star was able to regain the lead with 7:30 left as Jackson Vaites scored to make it 4-3 for Lone Star. With their never-say-die attitude, Ryan Franks would tie the game up with a rip just past the blue line to make it 4-4 and push the game into another overtime session.
Maryland kept the overtime pressure going, keeping it up from the end of the third. The forecheck proved to be deadly, as they created a turnover, leading to Harrison Smith feeding Franks for a one-timer at the bottom of the circle to give Maryland the 5-4 overtime victory to make the championship final on Tuesday.
The Final is on Tuesday starting at 8 PM ET with action on NAHL TV and at the Chesepiooc Real Ale Brewery in Crofton.
Clutch And Crab Hockey 