Two games. One win. One overtime loss.
Maine opened its 2026-27 season with a split against Holy Cross, taking Friday night's opener 4-1 before falling 3-2 in overtime just 24 hours later at the DCU Center.
There were plenty of positives, particularly from Maine's newcomers. But there were also some familiar concerns.
And now the level of competition is about to rise dramatically.
The Black Bears return home this weekend to face No. 6 Quinnipiac, one of the hottest offensive teams in college hockey through the opening weekend.
Friday night's season opener went largely according to plan.
Maine needed a two-man advantage to break through, but one of its biggest offseason additions wasted little time making an impact.
Just 4:54 into the game, Tanner Klimpke scored his first goal as a Black Bear to give Maine a 1-0 lead. Only two and a half minutes later, Klimpke struck again, this time on another power play, making it 2-0.
That lead held through the first intermission.
Holy Cross responded in the second period in unlikely fashion, scoring shorthanded after Matthew Kursonis finished a strong individual effort following a feed from Ben Riche.
Suddenly, Maine's advantage was down to one.
But the Black Bears eventually pulled away.
After generating 30 shots on goal, Brock James gave Maine some breathing room with the 3-1 goal before captain Owen Fowler sealed the game with an empty-netter with 1:40 remaining.
Final score: Maine 4, Holy Cross 1.
A convincing opening-night victory.
And in net, Albin Boija looked exactly like the goaltender Maine expects him to be.
Boija stopped 18 of the 19 shots he faced and delivered several important saves when Holy Cross threatened to get back into the game.
Twenty-four hours later, the same teams met again.