Tirone Makes 50 Saves; UNH Ties Maine 3-3

Sophomore UNH Goalie Danny Tirone
Comes Up Big Against Maine

After enrolling as a freshman at the beginning of the second semester last year, UNH goalie Danny Tirone played exceptionally well. He finished the half-season with a record of 14-6-0, a goals against average of 2.14, and a save percentage of .924. It's no secret that Tirone has struggled to regain his form so far this season. Entering the important game against the University of Maine up at the Alfond Arena in Orono, Tirone's goals against average was 4.02 and his save percentage had decreased to .874.

If Tirone is able to return to his stingy ways in the net, he might very well look back at tonight's 3-3 tie with Maine as the turning point. Maine generated 53 shots on net and Tirone saved 50 of them. He played with the style that has served him well throughout his prep school career at Loomis-Chaffee, his one season with the Cedar Rapid RoughRiders of the USHL and half season with the Junior Bruins of the USPHL. When Tirone is on his game - which he was tonight - he challenges the shooter, moves quickly side-to-side, makes the correct, aggressive move out beyond his crease, and makes the occasional diving save.

UNH entered the always rocking Alfond Arena and showcased the top scoring line in NCAA Division I hockey - the line of Tyler Kelleher, Andrew Poturalski and Dan Correale. They scored power play goals midway through the first period and again midway through the second period.

The Maine Black Bears, who entered the game on a 4-game winning streak, rebounded with 3 unanswered goals in a little over 4 minutes later in the second period. Senior Kyle Smith banged home a rebound of a shot by sophomore Shane Eiserman for the game-tying goal in the closing minutes of the second stanza. From then on, UNH and Maine each had scoring chances in the final period and in overtime but the game ended in a hard-fought draw.

Both Andrew Poturalski and Dan Correale finished the game with a goal and an assist and Tyler Kelleher dished out two assists. Poturalski, who entered the game as the leading scorer in the nation, now has tallied 12 goals and 15 assists. Kelleher, the #2 scorer in Division I hockey, now has 6 goals and 19 assists. Correale has compiled 9 goals and 3 assists.

UNH was without the services of regular defensemen Cameron Marks and Dylan Maller who are out with injuries. Captain Collin MacDonald appeared to get injured in the third period of tonight's game. UNH and Maine, perennial rivals, will do battle again Saturday night at the Whittemore Center in Durham.

Here are the highlights of UNH's 3-3 tie with Maine.

1st Period power play goal by Dan Correale with assists from Andrew Poturalsk and Tyler Kelleher at the 9:50 mark:



2nd Period power play goal by Andrew Poturalski with assists from Tyler Kelleher and Matt Dawson at the 8:58 mark:



2nd Period Goal by Cedric Lacroix at the 10:23 mark:



2nd Period Goal by Will Merchant at the 13:02 mark:



2nd Period Goal by Brian Morgan at the 14:55 mark:



2nd Period Game-Tying Goal by Kyle Smith with assists from Shane Eiserman and Dan Correale at the 18:20 mark:



Two Big Saves by Danny Tirone in the closing minutes of regulation:



Here is the box score for the 3-3 tie between UNH and Maine.