Your Northeastern Huskies welcomed in the Holy Cross Crusaders for a Friday night Hockey East matchup at Historic Matthews Arena. It was Beach Night in the old barn, and despite Coach Nick Carpenito’s best efforts, the re-tweets didn’t hit the magic number to make Head Coach Dave Flint go sleeveless and rock the board shorts. That’s what happens when you play at night: No Sun’s Out, No Gun’s Out. The Crusaders came into this one riding a modest win streak while the Huskies are on a tear, winning 11 straight going all the way back to November.
Captain Alina Mueller got the Huskies on the board with less than 2 minutes played in the opening period. Mueller broke up the play in the neutral zone before sending Molly Griffin down the LW while she drove the net. Griffin carried to the goal line before saucing a feed to Mueller at the right post. Mueller corralled the tumbling puck and put it over the glove of Madison Beck for the early lead which turned out to be the GWG. That goal gave Mueller the all-time lead in points in Hockey East play, (not a big deal). Stick tap to Chloe Aurard for having the presence of mind to grab the milestone puck. That’s one for the trophy case.
The opening stanza wasn’t the Huskies finest of the season. There was a decided “too cute” element of play in the first period. Too many homerun pass attempts and a bit of over passing whilst looking for the highlight reel play. Gotta get back to basics ladies, short quick passing and move your feet. The happiest people in the building were the Crusaders. Coming out of the first period only in a 1-0 hole had to be a dream for Holy Cross. Factor in that NU outshot HC 16-3 in the first and Holy Cross will probably be buying lottery tickets on the ride back to Worcester.
The Huskies opened the 2nd period on the power play, and on the fresh sheet the Huskies made them pay as Peyton “The Matrix” Anderson put one over Beck’s blocker to double up the score. Aurard was a one-woman cycle as she ragged the puck around the offensive zone going from the RW dot up and around to the left side before finding Anderson in the bumper position. Anderson steamed one past Beck and the Huskies were clicking.
Once again on the power play, the Huskies made the Crusaders pay… again. Maude Poulin-Labelle walked down the slot and put a wrister over the blocker to make it 3-0 with more than half the game left to play. The 2nd period was much cleaner and tighter for the Huskies and the zone time and scoreboard reflected as such. Holy Cross closed the SOG gap a bit but that was mostly due to some power play time and perimeter shooting. The Huskies controlled the tempo and pace and spent most of the period in the Holy Cross end. As sloppy as the first was at times, the 2nd was a notable improvement from the Huskies.
After back to back power plays to open the final frame, Captain Canada herself, Megan Carter got her 4th of the year when she walked down the slot and buried a feed from Maureen Murphy over the glove of Beck. This sequence was initiated by Aurard who was visibly, let’s say “angered” over the stick work and let’s say “cheapness” of some of the Holy Cross players. Aurard was calling for the puck (demanding the puck is probably more accurate) and drove this play from the neutral zone into the Holy Cross end.
Interesting strategy from Holy Cross. Come into Matthews for your last matchup vs. NU of the year and put the Huskies on the power play 7x?? Not sure that’s how I would have drawn it up, but I’m in the press box, not behind the bench. The score held for the final horn as Gwyneth Phillips earned herself another shutout in the win.
Some thoughts from around the rink:
- Megan Carter is absolutely ready for the on-ice war that is USA vs. Canada. Holy smokes she was out there like Chris Pronger tonight.
- Gwyneth Phillips had the toughest task tonight – she stayed awake in the net and was dialed in when needed. Imagine being lulled to sleep in a warm, quiet room and then having someone bust through the door and throw a golf ball lit on fire at you that you have to catch. That explains her night.
- Lily Yovetich and Jules Constantinople were standouts tonight on defense. Not trying to slight anyone else on the D corp, but they both played excellent.
- The line of Katy Knoll, Skylar Irving and Peyton Anderson were the best on the ice tonight in terms of generating chances. The Mayor of Kingston had toe drags for days and The Premier Power Forward in Women’s Hockey Today was her normal hospitable self, making friends all over the ice. The nickname line? Not sure I like that for this trio, but it’s a work in progress.
The Huskies are off until Thursday when they welcome in UNH. #HowlinHuskies
Keep an eye out for a special interview podcast where I get to ask Alina Mueller all kinds of idiotic questions that you’ve come to expect from The Morning Skate.
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Originally tweeted by Northeastern Women’s Hockey (@GoNUwhockey) on January 28, 2023.
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