Maine Nordiques conclude season with 5 game series vs Maryland
Freddi the Yeti and Carter are ready to Roll!
The Maine Nordiques and Maryland Black Bears Squared off for a best of 5 series with the winner capturing the East division title, and the opportunity to represent the East division in the Robertson Cup final 4 in Blaine Minnesota.
Games one and two took place at Piney Orchard Ice Arena, home of the Black Bears. Friday night’s game 1 got off to a 0-0 score after the first frame, as an evenly played chess battle between the two teams in their first meeting since early January between the two teams. The Nordiques would kill off two penalties in the period and their power play, which had been held scoreless all series, failed to capitalize. The Nordiques were able to get on the board however when Ryan Panico put home a 3rd chance opportunity and Cole Hipkin added another midway into the third period to give the Nordiques the 2-0 win and Carter Richardson the shutout.
Carter Richardson at full extension to preserve the shutout
In game two the black bears would get on the board first early in the game, and despite 36/37 saves from Carter Richardson and 4 power play opportunities the Black Bears would hang on to win 1-0.
Nils Forselius tries to tie up the game
The Scene shifted to The Colisee for games 3 and 4 when the Nordiques were under pressure in the first period getting outshot 12-6 in the frame. The Nordiques got off to a great start in the second period when Nils Forselius tried to center a pass in front that went off of the Black Bears defenseman and into the back of the net to make it 1-0 Nordiques. Carter Richardson would stand tall in net and keep the bears off the board with his second shutout of the series stopping all 28 shots he faced for a 3-0 Nordiques win.
The Nordiques celebrate after a key win
With the Black Bears backs against the wall in Game 4, they came out firing 14 shots onto the Nordiques net and with 5 minutes to go in the first the Black Bears would take the 1-0 lead. The Black Bears would add two more in the second and command game 2 3-0. The Nords would fire back however as Ryan Panico would put home a rebound and Luke Chappelle would snipe one to make it a one goal contest. A late power play from the Bears would halt the Nords comeback and a game 5 would be needed.
Luke Chappelle Cellys after burring a goal
The Nordiques got the upper hand in game 5 with two goals in the first, one coming off the stick of JP Steele and the other off a sweet pass from Zion Green with his backhand to Nick Ramm in the slot. The Black Bears came back in the second period however with 3 straight goals, the Bears would add another 3 in the third and the Maine Nordiques 5th anniversary season would come to a close
