FOUR-GOAL THIRD LIFTS NEW HAMPSHIRE PAST MAINE, 5-4
Greg Collins registers two goals and assist for Wildcats

Greg Collins had two goals and an assist for UNH

ORONO, Maine - New Hampshire scored four goals in the third period and erased a 4-2 deficit to defeat the University of Maine 5-4 in Maine's ice hockey action on Sunday afternoon at Alfond Arena in Orono, Maine. The Black Bears fall to 10-7-2 overall and 5-5-1 in Hockey East play, while New Hampshire improves to 9-6-3 overall and 6-4-2 in conference play.

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New Hampshire opened the scoring just 5:21 into the first period Phil DeSimone had his shot from just inside the blueline beat Maine goalie Scott Darling (Lemont, Ill.). Mike Beck and Danny Dries assisted on the goal which gave UNH the early 1-0 lead.

The Black Bears responded with three second period goals. Will O'Neill (Salem, Mass.) tied the score at 1-1 with a shot from the blueline at 7:41. Jeff Dimmen (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Spencer Abbott (Hamilton, Ontario) each assisted on the second goal of the season for O'Neill. Maine took its first lead of the night when Kevin Swallow (Stanwood, Mich.), who was on the goal line, fed Dimmen who was alone in the circle. Dimmen's wrist shot easily beat UNH goalie Brian Foster, giving Maine the 2-0 lead.

The Black Bears made it a 3-1 cushion less than two minutes later with a power play goal. Brian Flynn (Lynnfield, Mass.) fed Gustav Nyquist (Malmo, Sweden). Nyquist found a wide-open Tanner House (Cochrane, Alberta) in front of the UNH goal and he beat Foster for his sixth goal of the season. The Black Bears took the 3-1 lead into the second intermission.

UNH cut into the Maine lead when Greg Collins scored a power play goal just 1:36 into the third period. Collins redirected a Bobby Butler blocked shot past Darling for his third goal of the season. Kevin Kapstad also assisted on the goal.

Maine answered back with a power play goal by Matt Duffy (Windham, Maine) on a shot from the blueline. House won a face-off back to Josh Van Dyk (Woodstock, Ontario) on the blueline. He passed to Duffy on the opposite point who had his shot find the back of the net. For Duffy, it was his fourth goal of the season.

New Hampshire scored the next three goals to earn the 5-4 victory. The Wildcats pulled to within one goal when Mike Sislo scored an unassisted short-handed goal. He blocked a Maine shot, collected the puck and beat Darling with a shot from the right face-off circle. For Sislo, it was his 12th goal of the season. It is the first short-handed goal that Maine has allowed on the season. Collins tied the game with a power play goal at 16:01. Peter LeBlanc and Kapstad each assisted on the goal for UNH. Bobby Butler got the game-winner for UNH with just 2:21 remaining in the game. He skated down the ice and had his shot go just under the crossbar, giving UNH the 5-4 lead. Joe Charlebois and LeBlanc each assisted on the goal.

Maine outshot UNH 33-28 in the game. The Black Bears were 3-for-8 on the power play, while UNH finished the game 3-for-10.

Darling made 23 saves for Maine and falls to 8-5-2 on the season. Foster made 29 saves and improves to 8-4-2.

The Black Bears return to action on Saturday, January 10 when they travel to Boston for a match-up with the Boston University Terriers. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 pm.