Defenseman Nicholas Bernardo helped the Maine Nordiques to a victory over the New Hampshire Mountain Kings in the Nordiques’ first game at The Colisee in Lewiston since the mass shooting in the city last Wednesday.
The third-year defenseman had a goal and two assists in a 5-2 win over the Mountain Kings on Thursday night in a North American Hockey East Division game. Newly acquired forward Liam Gilmartin — a 2021 sixth-round draft pick of the San Jose Sharks — also had two assists for the Nordiques.
The Nordiques (11-4-2, 24 points) got out to a fast start when Kellen Murphy scored 64 seconds in with a shot that beat New Hampshire goalie Cooper Rautenstrauch (19 saves).
Kellen Murphy of the Nordiques gets Maine on the scoreboard with a first-period goal past New Hampshire goaltender Cooper Rautenstrauch during a game at The Colisee in Lewiston on Thursday. Ron Morin photo
Ryan Panico and Jake Bernadet also scored and the Nordiques had a 3-0 advantage midway through the first period.
St. Lawrence commit Cole Hipkins notched his first goal of the season late in the opening stanza for the Nordiques.
Jack Costanzo scored early in the second period for the Mountain Kings (8-7-3, 19 points) for the lone goal of the middle period.
Matthew Hale got a puck past Nordiques goalie Carter Richardson (17 saves) early in the third period, cutting the deficit to 4-2.
Maine goaltender Carter Richardson makes a save on a shot from Jack Costanzo in second-period action at The Colisee in Lewiston on Thursday. Ron Morin photo
Bernardo snuck a goal past New Hampshire backup goalie Matt Schoephoerster (16 saves) with about five minutes remaining in the game.
Nils Forselius, David Helledy, Laurent Trepanier and Charles Tardiff all had helpers for the Nordiques.
The two teams meet again on Friday and Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m. in Hooksett, New Hampshire.
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