NORTH ANDOVER — Bobby Kramer crossed the blue line with wide eyes in amazement at how much separation he had from the Maine defense.
The Merrimack College forward took a crisp pass from linemante Ryan Flanigan and deposited a one-timer over the glove of Maine goaltender Scott Darling to put the Warriors ahead for good in a 6-3 win over the 16th-ranked Black Bears last night in front of 2,754 fans at J. Thom Lawler Arena.
Kramer's goal was one of seven in the third period between the two teams, who combined for just two scores in the first 40 minutes. Merrimack tallied a pair in the first 2:13 of the third period to take a 3-1 lead before Maine scored 41 seconds apart to once again knot the game.
"Carter (Madsen) jumped ahead of me and drove to the middle and Flanigan found me in the wheelhouse for me to drive it home," said the junior, who scored just his second career goal. "We took the lead the next shift after they tied it, so it was huge. It was crazy there for a while with all of the goals."
The goal finally swung the momentum permanently in Merrimack's favor after a roller coaster of a period.
"We think we had the game in control and all of a sudden it's time to go back to work," Kramer said. "We weren't going to give up. We just keep working and nothing bothers us. We get beat by BC on Tuesday and we just never give up. We're going to finish the season like this."
If it weren't for injuries to forwards Jesse Todd and John Jamieson, Kramer may have not even been in the lineup for Merrimack. Normally a grinder for the Warriors, Kramer stepped into open ice above the left circle and fired a perfect one-timer.
"I'm so excited for him," said Merrimack head coach Mark Dennehy, whose team tied a school record with its 11th Hockey East win of the season. "You look at his numbers and he hasn't played as much as he would like, but there aren't many guys who work harder. It's awesome. It's a testament to the type of team we have. He leads by example. He gets thrown in there with some injuries in our lineup and scores the game-winner. He can kill penalties, understands how to stay on the defensive side, and you saw tonight that he has a great shot. He just hasn't had many opportunities to get it off."
Kramer's goal came just 43 seconds after Maine tied the score.
"The key goal was that fourth goal," Maine head coach Tim Whitehead said. "Our guy gets tripped up and there's no call. Then, two of our guys went for the same guy in the corner not realizing we lost possession and we give up a 4-on-2 going the other way."
The Warriors moved up to seventh place in Hockey East with the win, and just a single point behind Boston University for home ice in the Hockey East Tournament. Teams four-to-nine in the league are separated by just a single game (two points).
"It's hard to not scoreboard watch," said Merrimack junior Chris Barton, who potted his 18th and 19th goals. Barton could become the first Warrior since Anthony Aquino (2001-02) to score 20 goals in a season.
"We just have to keep worrying about ourselves," he continued. "If we win, no one can catch us."
Merrimack hosts Maine tonight (7 p.m.) to wrap up the season series.
Merrimack 6, No. 16 Maine 3
at Lawler Arena, Merrimack College
Maine (15-13-3, 12-10-2 HE):1âÇ0âÇ2âÇ— 3
Merrimack (14-16-1, 11-12-1 HE):1âÇ0âÇ5âÇ— 6
First Period: 1. ME Tanner House (Brian Flynn, Jeff Dimmen), ppg, 13:32; 2. MC Chris Barton (Stephane Da Costa, Karl Stollery), 15:33.
Second Period: None.
Third Period: 3. MC Chris Barton (Stephane Da Costa, Justin Bonitatibus), 0:14; 4. MC Kyle Bigos (J.C. Robitaille), 2:13; 5. ME David deKastrozza (Josh van Dyk), ppg, 7:41; 6. ME Jeff Dimmen (Gustav Nyquist, Tanner House), 8:22; 7. MC Bobby Kramer (Ryan Flanigan, Carter Madsen), 9:05; 8. MC Stephane Da Costa (Justin Bonitatibus, Adam Ross), 11:54; 9. MC Fraser Allan (Stephane Da Costa, Pat Kimball), 13:23.
Shots: Merrimack 12-6-13—31; Maine 8-8-21—37
Saves: MC — Cannata (8-10-1) 7-8-19—34; ME — Darling (15-6-2) 11-6-7—25; Wilson x-x-1—1
Power play: Merrimack 0 for 2; Maine 2 for 9
Attendance: 2,754
Next: Hosts Maine tonight, 7 p.m.
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