The Maryland Black Bears took over first place in the NAHL East Division on Saturday night with a 4-0 victory over the Maine Nordiques at the Piney Orchard Ice Arena in Odenton, Maryland.

Owen Lepak earned the shutout for the Black Bears (24-6-5, 53 points) by stopping 18 shots.

Former Twin City Thunder player Samuel Stitz picked up his first goal of the season midway through the first period for the Black Bears.

Riley Ruh pushed Maryland’s lead to 2-0 later in the first.

Ryder Nienhuis beat Maine (24-8-4, 52 points) goalie Carter Richardson (35 saves) in the second stanza.

Luke Janus had an early third-period goal to stretch Maryland’s lead to 4-0.

This was the final regular-season matchup between the two top teams in the East Division.

The Nordiques travel to Hooksett, New Hampshire, next weekend to take on the New Hampshire Mountain Kings.