CANTON, MA– In an early season clash between the top two teams in the East Division, the Maryland Black Bears traveled north to take on Northeast. After a gritty comeback game on Friday night, Maryland settled for a split after another chess-match of a game on Saturday night.
FRIDAY OCTOBER 16th, 2026: BLACK BEARS (2) at Northeast (1): Maryland talked this week about the quick start they have been lacking this season and they got a couple of decent shifts in the beginning of the game, but Northeast was quick to counter and get some quality chances to start. Both teams had to kill a penalty in the early going. At the midpoint of the frame, Northeast struck on their second power play, with Joc Bukovec redirecting in his second of the season to put Northeast up 1-0. Maryland tried to get momentum going, but couldn’t get much sustained pressure on net, leading to a 1-0 deficit after 20 minutes.
In the second period, Cole Werthman was the difference maker, making key saves to keep it a one-goal game as the Black Bears were getting frustrated by the Northeast forecheck and got pinned in their defensive zone plenty in the period. Matthew Shpungin had the best chance in the middle frame with a mini-breakaway, but couldn’t find the back of the net. The middle period ended the same as the first with the Black Bears down 1-0.
Maryland had trouble getting many shots on in the beginning part of the third period, getting denied by the shot-blocking of Northeast. Werthman made a couple more critical saves to keep Maryland in the match-up. Persistence paid off, as Shpungin leveled the scoring, putting home a rebound in front to even the game at one. Only 2:16 later, Will Schlechtweg got the Black Bears ahead, gathering a loose, bouncing puck and firing it behind the goalie to make it 2-1. Despite a late penalty, the Black Bears clamped down the play in their zone, giving them the 2-1 victory to open up the weekend. Cole Werthman had 29 saves in the win, his fourth of the year.
SATURDAY OCTOBER 17th, 2026: BLACK BEARS (1) at Northeast (3): Maryland looked to get off to a better start and were able to stave off chances early by Northeast. The Black Bears were able to get some sustained pressure in the middle of the frame on the power play, but could not find the back of the net. The defense was able to keep the Northeast attack at bay, keeping it a scoreless game after 20 minutes.
Northeast had a little hop in their step in the second, keeping the play in their offensive zone for a time, creating chances, but not finding any through the first half of the period. Maryland had their chances, too, but also were stymied. After an odd set of penalties, Northeast gets on the board first with Matthew Lacombe getting behind the defense and squeaking one through to make it 1-0. Moments later, while on a power play, the Black Bears get it back, as Matthew Shpungin hammered a one-timer home to even the score at one, which is where it would be going into the second intermission.
Maryland started the period well enough, with plenty of sustained pressure in the offensive zone, but not many direct chances at net. The same went for Northeast for the majority of the period, with both sides trying to break the tie. A face-off in the Maryland end late in the third gave Northeast the go-ahead goal with Logan Poulin notching his 11th of the year from the slot. The Black Bears tried to get even with an extra attacker, but Wyatt Ezman got the empty net goal to seal the 3-1 Northeast win.
The Black Bears are on the road again next weekend, taking on New Hampshire Friday and Saturday with all the action being on NAHL TV.
