Merrimack gets the split at home 3-0 over Providence

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It has been a bit of a tough road for the Merrimack Warriors (15-7-1,10-3-0 in Hockey East) since the Christmas break. They have gone 0-3-1 since returning to action. On Friday night, the Warriors gave up a season-high eight goals in an 8-3 loss to the Providence College Friars (12-6-6, 7-3-5). In Merrimack’s last three games, they have allowed 17 goals, this coming from a team that was ranked in the top 10 in both goals allowed and shots allowed per game. Would Saturday night’s game be the night the defense returns to early-season form?

In the first seven minutes of the first period, the Warriors had the better of the play outshooting the Friars 5-1. The best chance came off the stick of Warriors left-winger Ben Brar who redirected a center pass off the left-wing boards on net. Providence’s best chance came at the 9:31 mark of the first as Left-wing Jamie Engelbert got off a backhander from the side of the net on the left side that was stopped by Warriors goalie Hugo Ollas. The period continued to be an up-and-down affair, with both goalies sharp. On Merrimack’s tenth shot of the period, they scored the game’s first goal.. Alex Jefferies brought the puck into the Providence zone and his pass was deflected and picked up by Warriors defensemen Trevor Griebel who crossed the zone from left to right and put a backhander past Friars netminder Phillip Svedeback for his second of the year. Jefferies and Matt Copponi picked up the assists. Merrimack headed to the locker room with a 1-0 lead. . . Shots on goal for the period were 11-11. Merrimack is in good shape when scoring first. Their record is 9-1-0.

The second period started with no carry-over power plays since there were no penalties in the first. One thing that became apparent was through the first twenty-seven minutes of the game this was a skater’s kind of night. Both teams were going up and down the ice. Providence received the first power play at 6:51 on a bench minor to Merrimack for too many men. The Friars put two shots on net while on the man advantage, but Ollas stopped them both. As the second part of the period moved along, the Friars started buzzing around the Warriors net. In close shots by Liam Valente twice had Ollas scrambling to make saves. The Friars would go back on the power play for the second time in the frame as Griebel was sent off for cross-checking at 15:25. Warrior penalty killer, Will Calverley, had a partial breakaway that was stopped by Svedeback. Jefferies had a great chance coming down the right wing and cutting in on goal but he too was stopped by Svedeback on the backhand. Both teams would get whistled for penalties just before the period ended and played 4-on-4 hockey. The period came to an end with Merrimack up 1-0. Shots were 24-16 in favor of the Friars. When leading after two, Merrimack’s record was a perfect 10-0.

The teams began the third playing 4-on-4 for 1:28 seconds. Seven minutes into the third the Warriors’ defense was holding its own. Merrimack got their first power play of the night as Uula Ruikka was whistled for closing the hand on the puck at 7:03 of the third. Merrimack would keep the puck in the Providence zone for most of the penalty, and put two shots on net but no goal was scored. The Friars now had ten minutes left to tie the game. Instead, Merrimack would get some insurance as Mac Welsher from the high slot beat Svedeback for his fifth of the season at 10:47. Assists went to Slava Demin and Ryan Leibold. The Warriors now had a 2-0 lead. Providence went back on the power play with five minutes left to cut into the lead. Merrimack’s penalty kill, which was good all night, once again did its job. With 2:30 left they were looking good for a weekend split. The Friars pulled their goalie with under two minutes to go to try and even the game. Merrimack would get an empty net goal from Jefferies to make it 3-0. Assists went to Crozier and Zach Bookman. The time of the goal was 19:45. Merrimack wins 3-0 and the shutout was the team’s fourth of the season. As for Ollas, it was his third shutout of the year.

After the game, coach Scott Borek was pleased saying it was a “really good effort” and also said, “first win after the break is the hardest to get.” He praised his penalty killers who were a perfect three for three on the night against a Providence power play that the coach thinks is “really fast.” Next up for Merrimack is a home and home with Northeastern starting on Friday night at Lawler Rink.