The UNH men's hockey team was swept last weekend by rival Maine in a two game road series, falling first Friday, 3-2, before dropping Saturdays contest, 6-3.
In the first game of the series, Blake Kessel dished out a pair of assists, but the 13th-ranked Wildcats fell to No. 16 Maine at Alfond Arena.
With the scored tied at 2-2 entering the third period, it was Robby Dee's goal just 44 seconds into the final frame that proved to be the game winner. The tally was assisted by David deKastozza.
The goal was Maine's third straight and completed the comeback that included erasing a 2-0 deficit.
UNH had several opportunities in the third including 32 seconds of a 5-on-3 power play late in the period and a pair of Grade-A scoring opportunities were turned away by netminder Scott Darling. The Wildcats held an 11-10 shot advantage in the period.
Play was even early in the opening period when New Hampshire was whistled for a penalty. Skating a man down, Kessel blocked a shot from the right point and started a three-on-two break that ending with Mike Sislo finishing with a one-timer from the right side that beat Darling for the unassisted, short-handed tally at 5:00 of the first period. Maine held an 11-7 shot advantage in the frame.
The Wildcats extended the lead to 2-0 at 4:15 of the second period as Phil DeSimone skated the puck into the offensive zone and beat Darling glove side. Kessel and Paul Thompson were credited with assists on the play.
However, it was the Black Bears answering with a pair of goals in the second half of the period as Tanner House scored on the power play with assists from Gustav Nyquist and Will O'Neill at 11:55. Maine potted the equalizer in the final minute at 19:39 as Jeff Dimmen scored on the rebound of a Nyquist shot, Brian Flynn also assisted on the tally. Maine held a slim 13-12 shot advantage in the period.
UNH goalie Brian Foster stopped 31 shots including 11 in each of the first two periods.
Overall Maine held a 34-30 shot advantage. The Black Bears were 1-5 on the power play, while UNH was 0-3 in its extra-skater opportunities.
On Saturday night, Maine scored three goals in the second and third periods to erase a 2-0 deficit and capture a 6-3 win over UNH.
Trailing 2-0 enter the second period, the Black Bears erased the two-goal deficit and built a 3-2 lead with a three-goal second period.
The first of the goals coming on the power play at 6:46 as Brian Flynn scored with assists from Adam Shemansky and David deKastrozza. Maine scored the equalizer just 57 seconds later on a goal by Robbie Dee at 7:43 with assists from Will O'Neill.
Both teams had opportunities, but it was Theo Andersson scoring the go-ahead goal at 18:29 of the period. The Black Bears held an 18-14 shot advantage in the period.
Maine extended the lead to 4-2 with a power play goal at 4:36 of the third that came just two seconds before the penalty was set to expire.
Joey Diamond scored the eventual game-winning goal with assists from Jeff Dimmen and Andersson.
New Hampshire narrowed the lead to 4-3 when DeSimone scored on a back-handed shot with assists from Thompson and Bobby Butler at 9:19.
The Wildcats continued to put the pressure on Maine, but that all out pressure created an odd-man rush that ended with a Brian Flynn goal at 18:22.
Gustav Nyquist assisted on that goal and added an empty-netter of his own at 19:18 of the period. Maine held an 11-7 shot advantage in the period and a 40-30 edge for the game.
The Wildcats struck first for the second-straight night as John Henrion carried the puck into the offensive zone and scored on a one-timer from the right circle. The goal was assisted by Kevin McCarey and Mike Beck at 8:27 of the first period.
UNH doubled its lead as Peter LeBlanc scored from the center of the ice, set up by a nifty give and go move by linemate Stevie Moses at 18:30 of the period.
Brett Kostolansky was also credited with an assist on the goal. The Wildcats carried the two goal lead into the break, despite being outshot 11-9.
Foster stopped 34 shots including 15 in the middle frame, but falls to 12-10-4. Maine's Darling turned away 27 shots and improves to 14-3-3.
Maine was 2-4 on the power play, while the Wildcats were 0-4 in power play opportunities.
UNH falls to 13-10-4, 12-5-3 in Hockey East play, while Maine improves to 14-9-3, 11-6-2 HE. The Wildcats still hold a three point lead in first place in the Hockey East over second place Boston College and Maine.
UNH returns to action on Friday, Feb. 12 as it plays host to Providence College at 7 p.m.
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