HANOVER, N.H. – Each year at this time, everybody gives thanks for the things in their lives that they are lucky to have.
Among other things, Massachusetts hockey coach Don Cahoon certainly gives thanks for Mike Johnson.
“Michael is a great goaltender to begin with and has been for some time,” Cahoon said. “This is a guy who a year ago made 60 saves in a 3-3 tie against Boston College, so he doesn’t surprise me when he lights it up a little bit.”
Johnson turned away all 29 shots he faced to lead the Minutemen to a 4-0 victory over Dartmouth College (5-2-1, 3-1-1 Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference) on Saturday. For Johnson, it was his second consecutive shutout, and he has not allowed a goal in the last 167:11 he has logged between the pipes. It was the first time UMass (6-6-0, 2-3-0 Hockey East) has posted consecutive shutouts since 1930-31.
“Shutouts are nice,” Johnson said. “That’s the pinnacle of playing goalie, I guess – any time you go out, that’s what you ultimately want. But obviously, it’s not something I do on my own – the team has to give me a chance to do it. If it’s five-on-none and I got a shutout, then I’d expect some high accolades.”
Additionally, the special teams rolled for the Maroon and White, with the power play converting on three out of five opportunities and the shorthanded unit killing off all three of the Big Green’s extra man opportunities. Freshman Craig MacDonald had two goals, both on the power play, to vault him into a tie for second on the team in goals with four.
“Our special teams were incredible tonight,” Johnson said. “I remember Dartmouth setting up only one time on the power play, otherwise we were going at them real hard pressuring the pocket. They were turning it over and we were getting it out.
“Usually [the power play and penalty kill] lead to success at the college level,” Cahoon said. “If you get the goaltending and you win the special teams game, you’re in good shape.”
The Minutemen opened up the scoring at the 15:09 mark of the first period, with sophomore Brian Van Abel in the penalty box serving a holding minor. Assistant captain Samuli Jalkanen kept a clearing attempt in at the left point and slid the puck around the boards, where Justin Rafferty used a touch pass to get the puck to sophomore Jimmy Callahan behind the net. Callahan found a cutting MacDonald on the doorstep, who put the puck past a helpless Nick Boucher to give UMass a 1-0 lead.
“Jimmy had a nice look to me on the back door so I was able to pop it in,” said MacDonald, who posted his first career two-goal game. “We’ve been working on that play in practice.”
The Maroon and White tacked on to its lead just under two minutes into the middle frame. Following a key defensive play by Toni S
