Statistics

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Garrett Devine scored 69 seconds into overtime to lift the University of New England men's ice hockey team over visiting Endicott College by a 3-2 margin in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) action Friday night (Feb. 9) at the Harold Alfond Forum.

After winning a defensive zone faceoff, the Gulls attempted to skate out with it but a persistent Dominic Murphy took away possession before the puck cleared the blue line. Murphy's centering feed from right-to-left towards Devine was muffled, however Devine backtracked to collect it, stepped into the heart of the slot, and ripped a wrist shot off the inside of the left post [Watch]. It was Devine's sixth goal of the season -- three of which have proven to be game-winners.

The Nor'easters (15-5-3, 9-4-3 CCC) are now 9-7-5 all-time against Endicott (13-5-5, 10-3-3), which has 35 league points to UNE's 29 with two games remaining on the schedule. This week, with UNE outside of the national rankings for the first time in over a calendar year, it marks only the second time the teams squared off without at least one situated in the USCHO Top 15 Poll; the first was the first-ever meeting and inaugural CCC game to open the 2016-17 season. 

Billy Girard IV turned in 29 saves to secure the triumph, as UNE stays unbeaten (14-0-2) on the year when yielding two goals or less. 

The hosts struck first with the only score of the 1st period (3:40), as Jayden Price buried his seventh of the season on the power play [Watch]. Ryan Kuzmich and Nathan Chickering picked up assists, helping free the puck from a pile in the crease. The Nor'easters have registered advantaged goals in all but four contests.

The Gulls racked up a 17-11 edge in shots on goal during the 2nd frame and defenseman Collin Kleiser netted two goals in the initial 7:19 to give the visitors a 2-1 cushion. The first, a wrister from the left point that changed direction off a UNE stick, came just 44 seconds after the resumption of play. The second was another snap from the center of the ice into the top-left corner.

But skating 4-on-4 late in the period, the Nor'easters got even on the seventh goal of the year by Kuzmich. Noah Szretter, after blocking a point-blank try to a mostly open cage on one end, carried possession to the offensive zone and dropped it to Kuzmich trailing the entry. While Kuzmich crossed it behind Juraj Elias, Elias was able to stop and shield it just enough while backing into the slot to allow for Kuzmich to swoop in and make one move on the EC goalie before finishing on the backhand [Watch].

Now with 12 assists, both Elias and Murphy join Chip Hamlett for a piece of the team lead in the category. Hamlett was the only UNE player with multiple blocked shots on Friday.

For Endicott, Atticus Kelly had 33 saves.

The Nor'easters will visit Nichols College on Saturday afternoon to round out the weekend.