Quinnipiac fourth-year goaltender Michael Garteig backstopped the Bobcats to a 4-0 victory over the Maine Black Bears at home on Tuesday, Oct. 20. Garteig made 20 saves in the contest, recording his second consecutive shutout and becoming the fifth goaltender in Quinnipiac school history to reach 50 career wins in net. The shutout was the 13th of Garteig’s career.

First-year forward Chase Priskie led the Bobcats offensively, tallying a goal and an assist in the contest.

The Black Bears, who have had recent luck against favored opponents, struggled offensively and failed to find the back of the net on six power play opportunities. Quinnipiac doubled Maine’s total in shots on goal with 40.

The Bobcats notched their first goal with an unassisted play by Priskie just 12 minutes into the first period. After Black Bears’ second-year wing Nolan Vesey went to the box on a hooking call, third-year forward Sam Anas fired an errant shot that hit the boards and bounced back into the slot. A Maine defender tried to clear the puck, but Priskie knocked the puck down and sent a wrist shot to the opposite post that beat fourth-year goaltender Matt Morris for a 1-0 lead. This was Priskie’s first goal of the season. 

Maine mishandled another clearing opportunity in the middle period that led to the Bobcats’ second score. Fourth-year forward K.J. Tiefenwerth sent a pass off the skate of a Maine defender that deflected into the slot. A failed attempt to clear was recovered by third-year forward Tommy Schutt near the faceoff circle. Morris was screened by Tiefenwerth, who was cutting in front. Schutt sent a slap shot that met the far corner of the net, doubling the Quinnipiac lead.

After the first intermission, Quinnipiac connected again on the power play, to further extending their lead. Priskie recovered a cleared puck and held it behind the Bobcats’ goal before passing to third-year defender Devon Toews. Toews went coast–to–coast with the puck, deking a Black Bear defender and beating Morris to make the score 3-0.

Tiefenwerth rounded out Quinnipiac’s scoring late in the middle period when he received a pass from third-year defender Connor Clifton and buried his own rebound for a 4-0 Bobcats lead.

Neither team tallied a goal in the remaining period. Second-year netminder Sean Romeo made his first appearance of the season for the Black Bears when he replaced Morris in the third period. Romeo stopped all seven shots he faced in the period.

After the loss, Maine moves to 0-2-3 on the season, while Quinnipiac improves to 4-0. Maine will return to action on Friday, Oct. 23. when they face New Brunswick at home at the Alfond Arena. Maine opened at home with New Brunswick last season and won 8-3.