On Saturday night at home, the Providence College Friars came away with a critical 3-2 win over Maine. 19th ranked PC desperately needed the three points moving to a 10-10-3 record in Hockey East play. Providence now sits in a tie for sixth place with Boston University with 23 points apiece. PC with one game left in their 2019-20 season trail first-place Boston College by 9 points with the Eagles leading Hockey East with a 16-6-0 record, good for 32 points.
In this Saturday afternoon game against No. 15 Maine, the Friars opened up to a 2-0 lead. Goal one was scored by Hobey Baker candidate Jack Dugan. Dugan at the 14:15 mark in the first period picked up a turnover near the blue line and backhanded it past the goaltender. PC made it 2-0 when Jason O’Neil scored five-hole assisted by Nilsson and Kavanagh. Maine was able to make it a one-goal game prior to the end of the second period with Adrien Bisson socring off a wrist shot.
In the opening seconds of the third period, the Friars once again made it a two-goal game with Greg Printz scoring off a rebound from a Tyce Thomspon one-timer. Thomspon and Dugan picked up assists on the powerplay goal. Maine didn’t go away quietly though with Emil Westerlund scoring off a re-direction off a skate in front of the net at the 12:33 minute mark in the third. Providence was able to hold off Maine down the stretch with Michael Lackey standing on his head to save the game for PC. Lackey finished the night making 25 saves on 27 shots.
With the win, the Friars are now 20-1-1 over its last 22 meetings against Maine and are winners of 13 straight at home in the series. PC will be back in action next Friday when they travel to Maine for the season finale. Puck drop is slated for 7:00 pm.
