ORONO, Maine -- Joey Diamond (Long Beach, N.Y.) scored a pair of third period goals as the University of Maine men's ice hockey team skated to a 2-2 tie with Providence on Friday night at Alfond Arena. Martin Ouellette (St.-Hippolyte, Quebec) made 31 saves in another impressive performance in goal for the Black Bears.
Providence took a 1-0 lead at 11:07 of the first period when Nick Saracino stole the puck from a Maine forward at center ice. He skated into his offensive zone, before passing to Mark Jankowski, who beat Ouellette. For Jankowski, it was his fifth goal of the season.
The Friars extended their lead to 2-0 at 6:55 of the third period. Kyle Murphy won the face-off to Derek Army. Army's shot found the back of the net, giving Providence the 2-0 cushion. For Army, it was his 11th goal of the season.
With the Friars on their lone power play of the game, Diamond stole the puck at the blueline and skated in on a breakaway on Friar goalie Jon Gillies. He fired a shot past Gillies to pull the Black Bears to within a goal.
Maine went on the power play with just under four minutes to play in regulation. Adam Shemansky (Robbinsville, N.J.) had the puck at the point and passed to Andrew Cerretani (Pelham, N.H.). Cerretani one-timed the puck to Devin Shore (Ajax, Ontario), who fired a shot towards the net. Diamond deflected the puck past Gillies to knot the score at 2-2. For Diamond, it was his team-leading eighth goal of the season. It was Shore's team-leading 10th assist of the season.
Both teams had chances late and in overtime, but neither team could capitalize and the game finished in a 2-2 draw. Providence outshot Maine 33-30 in the game. The Black Bears were 1-for-4 on the power play, while the Friars were scoreless in their lone opportunity.
Ouellette made 31 saves in goal for the Black Bears. He moves to 5-7-5 on the season. Gillies stopped 28 shots for the Friars and moves to 10-8-4.
The Black Bears return to action on Sunday, Feb. 3 when they host UMass Lowell. Puck drop is scheduled for 2 PM.