SIMS, PROVIDENCE BLANK MAINE, 3-0
Junior Tyler Sims makes 28 saves to post shutout

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Junior Jon Rheault (Deering, N.H.) scored twice and added one assist, while classmate Tyler Sims (Grand Blanc, Mich.) stopped all 28 shots he faced as the Providence College men’s hockey team upset No. 4 Maine, 3-0, Friday night in a Hockey East game at Schneider Arena. It marked the first this season that PC has won consecutive games. It also marked PC’s first shutout win since January 20, 2006 when the Friars posted a 4-0 triumph at Maine.

After a scoreless first period in which the Friars outshot the Black Bears, 12-10, PC struck late in the second period as Rheault scored his fifth goal of the season. While on the penalty kill, Rheault blocked a shot at the PC blue line, collected the loose puck and skated in on a breakaway before tucking the puck past Maine goalie Ben Bishop at 18:53. It marked Rheault’s career-high third short-handed tally, all of which have been game winners. The Friars killed off the remaining 17 seconds on the power-play and went into the second period intermission with a 1-0 lead.

In the third period, PC established a two-goal cushion at 13:07 as sophomore Cody Wild (North Providence, R.I.) tallied his first goal of the season. Three seconds after PC killed off a penalty, the Friars created some pressure in front of Bishop and the opportunistic Wild pounced on a loose puck and fired it into the empty net. Rheault and senior Jamie Carroll (Andover, Conn.) assisted on the goal. Rheault sealed the win at 18:49, scoring an empty netter. Freshman Greg Collins (Hingham, Mass.) and Nick Mazzolini assisted on the goal.

Both teams had strong efforts in net. Bishop finished with 41 saves, including several PC breakaway chances, while Sims earned his first shutout of the season and the fourth of his career. He is one shutout away from tying a school record for most career shutouts, which was established by Mario Prouxl (1980-84).

The two teams will complete the two-game series tomorrow night at Schneider Arena, beginning at 7:00 p.m. The game will be aired live on Cox Sports Television.