FINAL SCORE: #5 Maine 4, Vermont 3
ORONO, Maine – Four different Black Bears scored Saturday night as No. 5 Maine (21-6-5, 13-4-5 HEA) held on late to defeat Vermont (11-18-3, 6-14-2 HEA) 4-3 in Hockey East action from Alfond Arena.
 
RELATED LINKS
Box Score
Video Highlights
 
COACH'S QUOTE
"I feel like I've watched this movie a bunch of times this year," said Head Coach Steve Wiedler. "Great effort, great resolve, inconsistent goaltending and a couple mistakes that lead to a goal against. The movie has gotten old. Someone has to draw a line in the sand and say no more. Stand up and say, "follow me.""
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Black Bears opened the scoring 2:35 into the contest. In transition Josh Nadeau cut into the Vermont zone and fired wrist shot top corner to beat Keenan Rancier. Brandon Chabrier and David Breazeale earned assists on the play.
• Max Strand tied things up at one with 38 seconds left in the opening period. Cutting down the wing Strand faked a shot and then took the puck around the net wrapping it around before deflecting the puck in off a Maine defender's stick for his eighth goal of the season. Simon Jellus and Sebastian Tornqvist earned assists on the play.
• Maine reclaimed the lead 6:34 into the middle frame. The Black Bears forced a turnover in the Vermont zone and Maine's Oskar Komarov setup Nicholas Niemo for a one-timer at the top of the slot to make it 2-1.
• With 5:05 left in the second Maine made it a two-goal advantage on a three-on-two rush. Owen Fowler scored his eighth of the season, after taking a cross-ice feed from Sully Scholle.
• Jellus cut the Maine lead in half with his ninth goal of the season 5:20 into the third period. Xavier Henry kept the puck in on the blue line and cycled the puck down low. Joel Maatta picked up the puck behind Maine's Albin Boija. Maatta fed the puck to Jellus as he cut to the net and he one-timed the puck past Boija.
• Just 80 seconds later Maine regained a two-goal edge. From the point Luke Antonacii fired a shot towards Rancier. Thomas Pichette knocked the shot down in front and then tucked it past Rancier to make it 4-2.
• Blake Steenerson came through for Vermont as they cut it to a one-goal game again with 5:01 to play in regulation. Steenerson entered the Maine zone and fired a shot towards Boija, the Maine goaltender made the initial stop but the rebound caromed high in the air. Steenerson batted the puck out of mid-air for his fifth goal of the year. Charlie Kinsman and Will Zapernick earned the assists on the play.
• Maine's aggressive forecheck prevented the Catamounts from coming any closer. Vermont was able to pull Rancier for an extra-attacker in the final minutes, in fact he had to make four saves in the final moments as Maine successfully protected its one-goal lead. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• With tonight's 4-3 decision, Community Bank N.A. will donate $225 to Special Olympics Vermont. Community Bank, N.A. donates $75 per goal to Special Olympics Vermont for every goal the men's and women's team scores this season.
• Simon Jellus had a goal and an assist Saturday night and was named the game's Third Star.
• Keenan Rancier matched a career-high with 37 saves Saturday night. He also made 37 saves on Oct. 12 at St. Thomas.
• With tonight's results the Catamounts are now locked-in to playing in the Hockey East Opening Round on Wednesday, March 12. Vermont can finish anywhere from 8-11 in the league, entering the final week of league play. Seeds six through eight will host seeds nine through 11 in the single game Opening Round on March 12.

UP NEXT
The Catamounts will return home for Senior Weekend as they host No. 9 UConn and No. 10 Boston University on Thursday and Saturday night. Vermont will host the Huskies on Vermont Night presented by Vermont Federal Credit Union. The team will wear special-edition maple themed jerseys that will be available to purchase in-venue. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. on Vermont Night. Samples of Canada Dry will be available following the game for all fans.
 
Saturday is Senior Day presented by Widewail. The first 500 fans will receive cobranded NBT Bank hats. There will also be 500 MVP Healthcare water bottles. The UVM Alumni Association will also have pom poms in the lobby.
 
Both contests will be broadcast live on ESPN+ with Rob Ryan on the call and as always it will also be broadcast live on WVMT (96.3 FM/620 AM) with the voice of the Catamounts Adam Lafleur in the Handy Toyota Broadcast Booth.
 
For news and updates about the Vermont men's hockey program, follow @UVMmhockey on Instagram, X, and Facebook, and visit UVMathletics.com.
Handy Toyota is the presenting sponsor of the UVM men's hockey program