Maine Nordiques forward Shane Kozlina gets a shot through heavy traffic, but Danbury Hat Tricks goaltender Lukas Fursten makes the save off the mask in second period action at The Colisee in Lewiston on Friday. Ron Morin photo
LEWISTON — The Maine Nordiques built an early lead on goals by players who have rarely found the back of the net this season.
After squandering the lead, their top scorer made sure those early goals weren’t wasted.
Charles Tardif scored in the first minute of overtime to send the Nordiques to a 3-2 win over the Danbury Hat Tricks in an NAHL game Friday night at The Colisee.
Zion Green opened the scoring with his first goal of the season for the Nordiques midway through the first period.
Tomek Haula tallied his fifth goal of the season just past the halfway point of the middle frame to make it 2-0 for Maine.
Danbury started its comeback less than four minutes later when Jack Wuertz scored his fourth goal for the Jr. Hat Tricks.
Logan Nickerson tied the game nearly six minutes into the third. Former Nordique Camden Charron provided the secondary assist, after notching the primary assist on Wuertz’s goal.
Both Danbury goals came on the power play.
Tardif’s game-winner also occurred on a power play, 46 seconds into the five-minute extra session.
David Helledy of the Maine Nordiques attempts to get past David Tolan of the Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks in first period action at The Colisee in Lewiston on Friday. Ron Morin photo
The Hat Tricks were 2 for 9 on the man advantage, and Maine converted one of its five chances.
Kellen Murphy, Nicholas Bernardo, Jake Bernadet and Nils Forselius all recorded assists for the Nordiques (28-10-1-4, 61 points), who remain within striking distance of the East Division-leading Maryland Black Bears (65 points).
The Hat Tricks (12-25-4-1, 29 points) remain in last place in the East Division.
Lukas Fursten stopped 31 of 34 shots for Danbury. Thomas Heaney had a seemingly easier night for Maine, needing to make just 17 saves for the win.
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