Hockey's Comeback Falls Short in 5-3 Loss to Providence
Boxscore
PROVIDENCE, RI – Trailing 4-0, the Merrimack hockey team
scored three goals in 3:37 late in the second but the comeback bid
fell short as Providence edged the Warriors 5-3 Saturday night at
Schneider Arena.
The Warriors came out flat, allowing two goals on the first two
penalties they took as Mark Fayne and John Cavanaugh scored in the
first 5:23 of the game. Cavanaugh then made it 3-0 at 4:16 of the
second as he executed a two-on-one with Rob Maloney and scored his
second of the night. Andrew Braithwaite (Kingston,
Ontario), who had no chance on any of the three goals, was
pulled in favor of Joe Cannata (Wakefield, MA)
after stopping 14 of 17 shots. The hosts added their third power
play tally in as many chances at 14:16 of the second as Nick
Mazzolini got credit for the goal after it appeared to go off a
Merrimack defender and past Cannata.
Trailing 4-0, Merrimack's comeback began as Francois
Ouimet (Lorraine, Quebec) scored the first of three
Warrior goals in a 3:37 span as he found Friar goaltender Alex
Beaudry out of position and fired it into the open net for his
fourth of the year at 15:17 of the second. Chris Barton
(Calgary, Alberta) and Pat Bowen (Marshfield,
MA) picked up the assists.
Just 2:20 later, Rob Ricci (Brampton, Ontario)
made it a two-goal game as he took a pass from Jesse Todd
(Camrose, Alberta), who was positioned behind the net to
the left of Beaudry and fed the captain right in front who
one-timed it for his eighth of the season. Ryan Flanigan
(Rochester, NY) also earned an assist on Ricci's
second goal in as many games.
With six seconds remaining in the second and the Warriors on a
4-on-3 power play, Todd made it a one goal game as he won the
faceoff by pushing it ahead, beat his defender to the puck and
roofed it over Beaudry for his sixth of the year unassisted.
The Warriors continued their quest to tie the game in the third as
a Joe Cucci's (Melrose Park, IL) one-timer
was saved with the body of Beaudry off a Ouimet pass with 4:30
remaining. But with the Warriors pressing and the clock winding
down, Mazzolini broke in alone and beat Cannata for his second of
the night.
Playing the final 35 minutes of the game, Cannata made 15 saves.
Beaudry finished with 21 saves earning his fourth win of the
year.
Todd tallied a goal and an assist, giving him five points in the
last four games, while Ricci's goal marked his ninth point in
as many games.
After scoring on its first three power play attempts, Providence
finished 3-for-5 on the power play, while Merrimack scored once in
three attempts.
Merrimack (5-16-3, 2-14-2 HEA) will visit Northeastern University
Friday night at 7 p.m. at Matthews Arena.
