University of Maine junior right wing Josh Nadeau eight-point weekend against Merrimack, which included five goals and three assists, could very well be just what the doctor ordered for the Black Bears.
Nadeau, who had been the team’s second-leading scorer behind younger brother Bradly his freshman season and No.3 point-getter a year ago, hadn’t registered a goal or an assist in his previous six games entering the Merrimack series.
He hadn’t scored a goal in nine games.
The Friday night game against Merrimack was his third since returning to the lineup after missing three games due to illness and he registered his third career hat trick and second of the season. He also had an assist in the 5-3 victory.
He had two goals and two assists in Saturday’s 5-2 triumph.
He was named the Hockey East Player of the Week.
UMaine had scored two goals or less in six of its previous eight games.
In his return two weekends ago, a 2-0 loss and 3-3 tie with UConn, he was held off the scoresheet but led the Black Bears in shots on goal with 12 in the two games.
“My game feels real good right now,” said Nadeau, who now has 43 goals and 56 assists for 99 points in 100 career games at UMaine.
“I was able to clear my head. The break really helped me mentally and physically. I was ready to get back playing and it showed last weekend,” Nadeau added.
Nadeau now has 15 goals and 10 assists in 26 games this season and is third on the team with his 25 points and second in goals behind freshman left wing Justin Poirier’s 18.
Poirier has missed the last four games due to injury.
Nadeau had 18 goals and 27 assists in 37 games his freshman year and was the second leading scorer behind younger brother Bradly, who signed with the Carolina Hurricanes after the season. He was a third team All-Hockey East selection.
He had 10 goals and 19 assists in 37 games a year ago.
Nadeau’s resurgence has given the team a lift.
Senior left wing Owen Fowler said Nadeau’s breakout weekend means everything to the team.
“It’s huge. He’s getting hot at the right time down the stretch,” Fowler said.
Junior defenseman and assistant captain Frank Djurasevic concurred.
“That’s big. I’ve been playing with Josh for a long time going back to juniors,” said Djurasevic, who was teammates with Nadeau for two years with the Penticton Vees in the British Columbia Junior Hockey League.
“He is a special player. He has a lot of skill. He sees the ice different than everyone else in a really good way,” Djurasevic said. “Seeing him get going is kind of a kick in the butt for everyone else, especially all the skilled guys on our team.”
On Saturday night, Nadeau had a goal and two assists on the power play and UMaine’s three power play goals represented the first time the Black Bears had scored more than one power play goal in a game since it scored three in a 5-0 win over Lindenwood (Mo.) on Dec. 13.
“That helps,” said senior defenseman and co-captain Brandon Holt, who assisted on all three power play goals and had six assists on the weekend to earn Hockey East Defender of the Week honors.
“We had a great weekend on the power play and we’re looking to keep improving it. Power play goals can win games for us,” said Holt.
The Black Bears, 16-12-3 overall and 10-10-1 in Hockey East, will take on Northeastern (15-15-1, 10-11) in a two-game set this weekend with Friday night’s game being at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland and Saturday’s being at the Tsongas Center in Lowell, Massachusetts. Northeastern’s Matthews Arena is being demolished.
Puck drops are 7 p.m. each night.
