Feb. 22, 2008

Box Score

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. - The 14th-ranked Providence College men's hockey team was defeated at Merrimack, 2-0, Friday night in a Hockey East game at Lawler Arena in North Andover, Mass. Merrimack goalie Andrew Braithwaite stopped all 42 shots as the Warriors improved to 11-15-3 and 5-15-2 in league play. The Friars fell to 13-12-4 and 10-8-3 in league play.

The Warriors had numerous chances to score first in the opening period as they created several breakaway opportunities, but could not convert. PC goalie Tyler Sims (Fort Wayne, Ind.) made six saves in the first period including one on a short-handed breakaway at 14:20. In the second period, the Friars carried the play as they outshot the Warriors, 16-8, but could not find the back of the net.

The Warriors brokethrough with 5:14 left in the third period when Rob Ricci pounced on a rebound in front and fired a back hander past Sims. The Friars' last chance came with just under two minutes left as they went on the power play and pulled Sims for an extra skater. However, the Warriors were able to thwart PC's chances as Ricci added an empty netter to comple the scoring. Sims, who set a PC record for most career games played by a goalie, made 21 saves.

The two teams will complete the home-and-home series on Saturday, February 23 night at Schneider Arena.