Prd | Time | Team | Score | Type | Scored By | Assists |
1st | 0:46 | MND | 1-0 | EV | Riley Tufte (4) | Karson Kuhlman/2 |
3rd | 9:26 | MNE | 1-1 | EV | Eduards Tralmaks (3) | Canon Pieper/3, Emil Westerlund/2 |
3rd | 11:03 | MND | 2-1 | EV GW | Jade Miller (2) | Billy Exell/3 |
Scoring | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final |
Minnesota Duluth | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
Maine | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Shots on Goal | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | SOG |
Minnesota Duluth | 14 | 9 | 6 | 29 |
Maine | 8 | 7 | 12 | 27 |
Team Stats and Records | PP | PIM | SHGF |
Minnesota Duluth (3-2-2) | 0/1 | 3/6 | 0 |
Maine (2-3-0) | 0/3 | 1/2 | 0 |
Minnesota Duluth Goaltending | MIN | GA | 1 | 2 | 3 | Saves |
Hunter Shepard (W, 3-1-0) | 60:00 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 11 | 26 |
Maine Goaltending | MIN | GA | 1 | 2 | 3 | Saves |
Rob McGovern (L, 1-2-0) | 58:20 | 2 | 13 | 9 | 5 | 27 |
Empty Net | 1:40 | 0 |
Orono, Maine - Following a one hour and 27-minute power outage delay at Alfond Arena, the No. 10/11 Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard as the visitors took a 1-0 lead just 46-seconds into the first period. The Black Bears would claw back into the game, with Eduards Tralmaks equalizing midway through the final frame, but the Bulldogs would respond to take the game, 2-1.
Karson Kuhlman put UMD on top when he took advantage of a Maine turnover in the Black Bear zone and immediately found a streaking Riley Tufte whose shot got past Rob McGovern and found the back of the net. But from then on, McGovern made several key saves throughout the game to keep UMaine in striking distance -- including a highlight stop in the second period when he slammed the door on a Jared Thomas breakaway attempt.
With McGovern keeping the Black Bears in the game, Maine was able to knot the score on Tralmaks third goal of the season, 9:26 into the third period. The Black Bears broke out with a three-on-two rush as Canon Pieper carried down the left wing before sliding a pass back to Tralmaks who snapped a wrister past Minnesota Duluth goaltender Hunter Shepard.
However, just under two minutes later, the Bulldogs tallied what would eventually be the game-winner. Jade Miller pounced on the loose puck at center ice, before hitting Bily Exell with a pass to the Maine zone. Exell worked a give-and-go back to Miller who beat McGovern on a backhander with 8:57 remaining.
The Black Bears had their opportunities down the stretch as they would pull McGovern with 1:40 to play - and outshot the Bulldogs, 12-6, in the third period - but were unable to tally the equalizer, dropping the series opener by a final of 2-1.
McGovern (1-2-0) finished with 27 saves while Shepard (3-1-0) made 26 for the win. UMD held the final edge in shots on goal, 29-27.
Maine (2-3-0) and Minnesota Duluth (3-2-0) close the weekend slate on Saturday night with puck drop set for 7:30 p.m.