Your Northeastern Huskies welcomed in the Providence College Friars to Historic Matthews Arena tonight in the first of a home and home series this weekend. The Huskies took the ice in front of a homecoming crowd that included some of NU women’s hockey immortals. That’s right, when you get the Call from the Hall your memory lives on forever. Congrats to the newest inductees into the NU Hall of Fame: Kendall Coyne Schofield (Patty Kaz, most career goals in NU history and most points in a season – not a big deal) and the entire 1987-1988 women’s hockey team that went 26-0-1 en route to an ECAC Championship and a Beanpot crown (is that good?). Keep an eye/ear out for Kelly Dyer Hayes, the backstop of that team (and also an individual NU HOFer), to join me on the podcast next month.
The Huskies came into this one looking to get things back on track after a tough stretch where they dropped 3 of their last 4 contests. Providence took the ice looking to avenge their Hockey East Championship loss last year to NU. Something was going to have to give. The Huskies controlled play from the opening draw and def had the ice tilted towards Hope Walinski in the PC net. You could tell the Huskies were bought in for this one as both Lily Shannon and Jules Constantinople laid out for some big blocks in the early going. Nothing gets the bench fired up like some early game blocks, that’s true at all levels in all leagues.
The Friars drew first blood in the opening minute of the 2nd, when a puck thrown on net was re-directed by Lauren DeBlois as she was decked by Megan Carter fell over on her own. The puck went up over Gwyneth Philip’s shoulder from about 4ft out, no chance on that one. Philips shut the door after that and was back to her usual dominant self. I think Philips’ best save of the night was as the period wound down, Lindsay Bochna walked in alone after a NU turnover at the defensive blue line and Philips was hard on her line and denied the bid. Some undisciplined play by the Huskies led to a PC 5:3 power play midway through the period and as Paige Capistran said on the coverage “You need your goalie to be your best penalty killer”.
And she was: Just another night for the All-Galaxy Goalie.
After killing off the PC PP, the Huskies got on their own power play and made the Friars pay. Lily Yovetich dropped to the top of the RW circle and put a good, low shot on net. Allie Lalonde was on top of the blue paint on the far side for the tuck in. Keep the change ya filthy animal.
With less than 4 minutes to play in the middle frame, and the Huskies again on the PK, The Mayor of Kingston did her best Chloe Aurard imitation and scored a beautiful shorty. For those scoring at home, that was Skylar Irving with the GW-SHG. Irving blew through the neutral zone and split two defenders while maintaining her balance (and stick and a bouncing puck) and tucked one 5-hole on Walinski.
The Huskies got on the board again to open the 3rd when Lalonde got her 2nd of the night. Peyton Anderson was set up in the LW corner and drew 2 defenders while Lalonde dropped into the slot with no coverage. After Walinski made the initial save on her one-timer, Lalonde followed up and tucked her own rebound home on the backhand. 3-1 and the Huskies officially slipped the chain. And hey, some free advice for the PC coaching staff: maybe check the game notes and not let Lalonde walk all alone down Main Street?
During a 5 on 3 power play, Tory Mariano got her first of the campaign when her one-timer from the point beat Walinski high. Yovetich dropped down the RW wall to the circle and drew 2 defenders (bold choice by PC when trying to kill off a 5 on 3) before sliding the puck back to Mariano at the middle of the blue line. Her rising shot found it’s home up under the bar and it was 4-1 and PC was cooked.
Again on the power play (everyone said PC was going to be physical, but no one said they’d take so many dumb penalties), Constantinople got her first of the year when she wired one home from the right point. Megan Carter (2 assists tonight) gathered the puck at the left point and slid one across to Constantinople for the one-timer that beat Walinski over the blocker.
Everyone was looking to head back to Punter’s when Alyssa Antonakis entered the chat. Less than 90 seconds after Constantinople’s goal, Lily Brazis won an offensive face-off clean and laid it back to Kristina Allard at the point. Allard put the shot on net where Antonakis was camped out with Mia Langlois. The rebound fell to Antonakis at the top of the paint and she battled through a stick hold check to notch her first career goal.
Some thoughts from the couch:
(sick kid and wife – I couldn’t risk getting Todd sick in the pressbox, he must be protected at all costs)
- Ok, I’ll say it: invite the alums to every game the rest of the way
- Great to see Abbey Marohn back out there. In typical Marohn fashion, less than 30 seconds left in the game, up by 5 and she’s dropping to one knee to eat some pucks. Beauty.
- Taze Thompson drew both penalties to put the Huskies on the 5:3 advantage. I don’t know if there’s advanced analytics for that type of stat, but I see you Taze!
- Right after Lalonde’s goal put the Huskies up by 2, Yovetich (2 apples, not a big deal) did a great job breaking up a 2:1 bid for PC. That was a possible huge momentum shift and Yovetich came up huge.
- Is there a stat for most majors drawn? The Premier Power Forward in Women’s Hockey Today drew another major tonight. That’s Katy Knoll doing Katy Knoll things, making friends and putting the team on the PP
- Knoll also had a huge block/clear during the 5:3 penalty kill and got herself on the scoresheet with an apple on Irving’s shorty. Constantinople also chipped in with a block during that same penalty kill. The Hockey Gods approve.
- The line of Langlois-Brazis-Antonakis were dominant at times. Really nice to see that The Nailgun has made some friends.
- Good to see/hear friend of the podcast Maureen Murphy during the 2nd period tonight.
- I’m not a huge jersey guy, but those Military Appreciation tarps were looking good. I’m still partial to the red alternate sweaters, but those camo ones tonight were pretty sweet.
The teams get back at it tomorrow afternoon at PC with a 3pm puck drop.
Any alumni going? Please?
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