Shields, Black Bears slip past Merrimack

ORONO, Maine -- Colin Shields scored his second goal of the game with 6:17 remaining in the second period to snap a tie and propel Maine to a 2-1 win over Merrimack last night.

The Black Bears (27-7-3) and Warriors (11-18-6) meet again tonight in the second game of a best-of-three Hockey East quarterfinal series.

With the game tied, 1-1, late in the second period, four players were sent to the penalty box following a scuffle in front of the Merrimack net. On the ensuing 4-on-4, Shields took a pass from Steve Mullin and beat Jim Healey to give Maine a 2-1 lead.

Maine and Merrimack scored goals on the same penalty in the first period. Shields struck first with an unassisted shorthanded goal on a breakaway at 12:31. The Warriors answered about a minute later when Tim Reidy sneaked a shot under the crossbar past Jimmy Howard.

Healey had 25 saves. Howard stopped 14 shots.