John Ronan drops in the game-winning goal for Maine.
ORONO – In a game where they were beaten at virtually every turn, it was Maine that had the last word Saturday night.
Junior John Ronan crashed the net, stuffing home his own rebound with 1:20 remaining in overtime to give the No. 3 Black Bears a come-from-behind 4-3 win over No. 2 Boston College in Hockey East action at the Alfond Arena.
The win means Maine did not lose a season series to any team in the league this year. Despite claiming the Hockey East, regular-season title, Boston College ended the year with three losses.
The winning score started deep in Maine’s own end to the left of Black Bear goaltender Frank Doyle. Tom Zabkowicz got control of the puck to Doyle’s left and sent an indirect pass to Ronan just outside the BC blue line.
Ronan drove down the right side and fired a shot from inside the circle.
“I walked in and took a shot and got my rebound,” said Ronan. “I think it hit his pads, I’m not sure. (Andrew) Alberts was on my back, and I kind of rushed it and the puck came right back out. I think it went five-hole.”
As dramatic as Ronan’s score was, it was Dustin Penner’s goal midway through the final period that allowed overtime to happen.
Damon’s shot was blocked by Boston College netminder Joe Pearce and the rebound went to Penner.
Penner fired it home for his first goal in 10 games.
I am really proud of the seniors,” said Whitehead. “I thought we were pretty fortunate tonight actually. What I like about us is that we really stormed back in the third period.”
Early on, despite ferocious forechecking by the Eagles, it looked like it might be a continuation of Friday night.
Five minutes into the contest, with Boston College’s Chris Collins in the box for slashing, Derek Damon put home a rebound off a Colin Shields shot for a 1-0 lead.
Maine made it 2-0 five minutes later on a freak bounce. The Eagles’ Ben Eaves tried to clear the puck around behind his own goal but instead it bounced back out in from of the goal.
Todd Jackson found the handle in the confusion in front for the goal.
“I thought they came at us extremely hard,” said Whitehead. “They were very effective. I don’t feel we protected our defensemen or our goalie as well as we should have. If it weren’t for Frank Doyle, I think the game could have slipped away from us. He was at his best which is very typical for Frank.”
“It was certainly one of the more memorable games of my career,” said Doyle.
BC took control of the game with three goals. Ben Eaves, playing for the first time in eight weeks, earned an assist on all three.
Tony Voce made it a 2-1 game in the first and even the score late in the second.
Patrick Eaves put the Eagles up early in the third on the power play. The way BC was controlling the game at the time, it seemed like a pretty tall mountain to climb for Maine.
Maine was forced to defend short-handed a lot, again giving Boston College six power-play opportunities.
On two occasions, the Black Bears fended off 5-on-3 and in one of those occasions it was pure survival.
“We were fortunate to just be in the game,” said Whitehead.
Doyle was called upon to make 39 saves for Maine. Pearce stopped 22 shots for Boston College.
Maine will host Merrimack next weekend in the quarterfinal round of the Hockey East tournament.
pmullen@sunjournal.com
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