The Maine Nordiques lit the lamp aplenty against their rivals, the Northeast Generals, Friday night.
Maine scored six unanswered goals in a 6-2 victory over Northeast in an NAHL East Division game at the New England Sports Village in Attleboro, Massachusetts.
The Nordiques were aggressive Friday night.
“We let the guys go this week and we really forechecked hard tonight,” Maine Nordiques coach Nick Skerlick said. “I don’t think that team was really expecting that. We scored two goals off the forecheck.”
After Brandon Spaulding gave the Generals (23-23-2, 48 points) a 1-0 lead six-plus minutes into the first period, Jake Bernadet evened the game nearly 12 minutes into the contest.
Liam Gilmartin scored nearly 14 minutes into the second period before Charles Tardif put the Nordiques (31-12-5, 65 points) up 3-1 before the second intermission.
Maine scored three minutes into the third period when Kellen Murphy’s shot beat Generals goalie Toby Hopp (28 saves).
Murphy becomes the third player to reach 20 goals this season, following Tardif and Nils Forselius.
Defenseman David Helledy notched the Nordiques’ fifth tally a little over a minute later for a 5-1 lead.
Zion Green, who assisted on Murphy’s goal, scored midway through the third period to extend the Nordiques lead to 6-1.
“He took a beating tonight, but provided some secondary opportunities for his linemates by taking a beating,” Skerlick said of Green. “Good for Zion, he’s going to have to continue to play that way in order to compete at Northern Michigan (University) in a year.”
Joseph McGraw scored late in the third period for the Generals.
Tomek Haula had two assists for Maine. Ten different players recorded a point.
“I think almost every line scored tonight and that Bernadet-Tardif combination is back,” Skerlick said. “They connected for two and Kellen Murphy got off the schneid — that line had two with Zion Green. I can’t speak enough for the kids, it was a really good hockey game. They did a really fantastic job.”
Carter Richardson turned aside 23 shots in the win.
The Nordiques go for the weekend sweep Saturday at 2 p.m. in Attleboro.
JP STEELE MAKES D1 COMMITMENT
Nordiques defenseman John Paul Steele announced this week that he will play his Division-I college hockey at Alaska-Anchorage.
The 20-year-old Beverly, Michigan, native has four goals and 12 assists in 45 games.
“JP made the educational decision to make his commitment done. He had a couple of offers he was chewing on,” Skerlick said. “We all know these ’03s — 20-year-olds — towards the end of the season get D1 offers. Some unfortunately don’t, but it does weigh on a kid. JP, I think last weekend, was a victim of having offers but was not sure what to do. For JP to announce his commitment, I feel the kid is 100 pounds lighter.”
The Seawolves, an independent program, entered Friday 12-16-2 this season.
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