Northeastern put together a great offensive performance against Providence in Matthews Arena on Saturday, winning by a final score of 7-3.
The Huskies (6-4-2, 3-3-1 Hockey East) won by committee on Saturday night, having six different players score goals despite only putting 21 shots on goal in the game. Senior Matt Filipe lead the way for Northeastern recording two goals and notching two assists.
Michael Lackey started in goal for the Friars (6-4-2, 4-3-1 Hockey East) only making seven saves and allowing four goals on 11 shots. Gabe Mollot-Hill came in to relieve Lackey in the second period, also managing only seven saves for the rest of the game.
Providence forward Jason O’Neill opened the scoring late in the first period with his third goal of the season. The Huskies would respond right away by scoring 38 seconds later, which was the first collegiate goal for freshman Mike Kesselring.
Northeastern took the game over with an offensive onslaught in the second period. The Huskies scored three goals within the first six minutes of the frame from Grant Jozefek, Zach Solow and Filipe. Lackey would be pulled from the game after letting up Filipe’s goal, which ended up being the game winner for Northeastern.
Providence was able to get a power play goal from Patrick Moynihan just 47 seconds after the goalie change. However, the Huskies restored their three goal lead late in the second period when defenseman Jeremie Bucheler scored his first collegiate goal.
Senior Vimal Sukumaran scored a goal 2:22 into the third period to cut the deficit to 5-3, but that was all that Friars would be able to put past goaltender Craig Pantano despite taking a period high 11 shots. Northeastern would seal the game late in the third, with two empty net goals, from Filipe and Tyler Madden.
The Huskies allowed only one power-play goal, which kept their penalty kill at the top of the Hockey East leaderboard, killing off 44 of 48 power plays through 12 games for a 91.7 penalty kill percentage. They will look to keep their momentum moving, as they travel to Maine on Friday to play the Black Bears.
UNH beats Maine in overtime, 2-1.
Outstanding goaltending play highlighted both teams as New Hampshire lost in overtime to Maine at Alfond Arena, 2-1.
Junior Jeremy Swayman made 32 saves on 33 shots in the win for Maine (7-3-2, 4-2-2 Hockey East), and Mike Robinson made 34 saves on 36 shots for UNH (5-4-1, 3-3-0 Hockey East). Robinson remained perfect throughout the game, until he let up his first goal with 50 seconds left to go in the third period.
The game remained scoreless through the first period of play. The Wildcats took 11 shots on goal, and the Black Bears had 10. The goalies denied every shot that came their way, even though five penalties were called in the first frame.
The first goal of the game came from sophomore Angus Crookshank for UNH. Crookshank scored a power play goal midway through the second period, on a pass from Kalle Eriksson. The Wildcats maintained the 1-0 lead going into the third period.
The third period remained scoreless until the final minute, where Maine forward Tim Doherty tied the game with 50 seconds left to play. Adam Dawe and Mitchell Fossier were credited with assists, on what would be the second power play goal of the game.
In overtime, senior Patrick Shea ended the game for the Black Bears with his first goal of the season. The assists came from Ryan Smith and Mitchell Fossier, which was Fossier’s 100th career point while playing with Maine.
The Black Bears efforts were enough to pull out a win in this defensive contest, blocking nine shots and only taking two penalties in the process.
Maine improved to 7-3-2 and will travel to Northeastern to take on the Huskies on Friday night.
Scott Marro can be reached at [email protected].
