#7/9 Merrimack Falls to Providence 5-3; Will Host Maine in Quarterfinals
Playoff Central 2011 / Collins PP Goal & Dennehy Postgame
PROVIDENCE, RI – In the regular season finale, #7/9 Merrimack led 3-1 after one period, but Providence rallied for four second-period goals and prevailed with a 5-3 victory Saturday night at Schneider Arena.
Merrimack (22-8-4, 16-8-3 HEA) will host #14 Maine in best-of-three Hockey East Quarterfinal series beginning Friday night at 7:30 p.m. at Lawler Arena.
For complete Hockey East Quarterfinal information including how to purchase tickets, log on to Merrimack's "Playoff Central 2011" page online at merrimackathletics.com. Tickets to the general public for Games 1 and 2 of the Quarterfinals are on sale now at merrimackathletics.com and at the box office. Tickets for all Merrimack staff will go on sale Monday at noon while all Merrimack student tickets go on sale at 6 p.m. on Monday.
Providence drew first blood on a slap shot from Eric Baier at 5:46 but the Warriors rattled off three goals in a 4:16 span to take a 3-1 lead at the end of one behind goals from Kyle Bigos (Upland, CA), Mike Collins (Boston, MA) and Joe Cucci (Melrose Park, IL).
A booming slapper from Bigos went off a Friar defender and beat Alex Beaudry at 11:11 with Ryan Flanigan (Rochester, NY) and Elliott Sheen (Lethbridge, AB) getting the assists. Then with Merrimack on a five-minute power play, Collins took feeds from Chris Barton (Calgary, AB) and Jordan Heywood (Regina, SK) and one-timed it home for his 11th of the year at 14:19. Moments later, Cucci potted his 10th power play goal of the season, most by a Warrior since 2006, as Collins and Barton set him up at 15:27 of the first.
With their playoff hopes hanging in the balance, the Friars dominated the second, scoring four unanswered goals while outshooting Merrimack 22-5. Jordan Kremyr, Matt Germanin, Andy Balysky, and Baier all potted second-period goals giving the hosts the 5-3 advantage through 40 minutes.
Providence went into defensive mode in the third, limiting the Warriors to just seven shots and prevailed with its first victory since December 11, 2010. But despite the win, the Friars missed the playoffs as UMass picked up a point on Maine to clinch the eighth and final playoff spot.
After getting 13 first-period shots, Merrimack managed just 12 in the final two periods and was outshot 35-25 in the game.
Beaudry finished with 22 saves, while Joe Cannata (Wakefield, MA) stopped 21 shots before giving way to Sam Marotta (Bridgewater, MA) who stopped all nine shots he faced.
Merrimack will now set its sights on the Maine Black Bears and will be looking to avenge last weekend's sweep in Orono. The Warriors are hosting a playoff series for the second time in school history since joining Hockey East and are 12-2-1 at home this season, with wins in six straight.
Hockey East Quarterfinals (best-of-three)
#14 Maine at #7/9 Merrimack, Friday-Sunday, 7:30 p.m. at Lawler Arena
