By Kevin Mills,Staff Writer

ALBANY, N.Y. – For two days, the University of Maine hockey team had answered a variety of questions about 4-1 deficits and thrilling comebacks.

With the Black Bears victory over Harvard on Saturday, it appeared that subject had been finally put to rest.

Michigan St. brought the topic up again Sunday. The Black Bears had a 4-1 lead in the second period of the NCAA East Regional final and needed to stave off the Spartans in a 5-4 victory in front of 4,470 at the Pepsi Arena..

“I thought it was a heck of a game,” said Maine coach Tim Whitehead. “To advance past Michigan State was pretty special. It came right down to the last whistle, and we were fortunate to advance. It wasn’t an easy road, but we’re thrilled to be going to the Frozen Four.”

With its first-ever tourney win over the Spartans, the Black Bears advance to the Frozen Four in Milwaukee, Wisc., on April 6. It will be the 10th trip to the Frozen Four for the Black Bears, whose first National Championship came in Milwaukee back in 1993.

“It feels really good to advance and get back to the Frozen Four,” said Maine captain Greg Moore, who was a sophomore when Maine lost in the National Championship game in Boston two years ago. “Every year, this is something you work toward, playing your best hockey at the right time. We’ve battled through some really tough and great teams. Hats off to them. We’re just very fortunate to have gotten the win and be able to move on.”

Maine had a seemingly commanding lead in the opening period after three goals. A Matt Duffy shot snuck through a screen before John Hopson had a pair of tip-in tallies.

Michigan St., however, battled back and was within one after two periods. The Black Bears settled in defensively in the third and held off the Spartans’ rally.

“They got the jump on us,” said Michigan St. coach Rick Comley. “Then our kids settled down and played great. Somebody just said to me, and I think it’s true, we just ran out of time.”

After a Derek Damon goal on the power play at 3:35 of the second made it 4-1, Michigan St. rallied while outshooting Maine 14-9 in the period. Maine took three penalties during an undisciplined period.

Tim Crowder scored on the power play at 8:00, and Jim McKenzie’s shot from the right wing snuck by Ben Bishop with 59 seconds left.

“There wasn’t a lot of adjustments we had to make,” said Moore. “We felt we had to go back to playing the way we did in the first period. We had to take time and space away and put pressure on them and try to play as much hockey in their end.”

Maine limited the quality bids by the Spartans the rest of the way, but Colton Fretter nearly tied it with 4:48 left. His wrap-around try went to the top of the net and hit the crossbar and bounced out.

“It definitely hit the crossbar and dropped down,” said Comley.

Moore scored into an empty net with 36 seconds left before Michigan St. got a Drew Miller goal in a scramble with five seconds left.

Maine roared out to a 3-1 lead with a dominant opening period. The Black Bears outshot the Spartans 12-3 over the first 10 minutes of play and led 3-0 before Michigan St. got a Tim Crowder power play goal with 43 seconds left.

The Black Bears opened the scoring on a goal similar to the one that put them ahead of Harvard on Saturday. Damon won the face-off at the left circle. Duffy fired a shot from the point that snuck past Spartan goalie Jeff Lerg at 3:13.

Maine made it 2-0 with 9:39 left when Mike Hamilton’s shot from the left circle was tipped by Hopson in front.

Michigan St. called its time out to stop the bleeding, but gave up another goal with 3:22 left on the power play. Hopson scored again, redirecting a shot by Duffy.

“I was just in the right place at the right time,” said Hopson. “Our whole team forecheck really got on the other team and it opens up space on the ice.”