Your Northeastern Huskies traveled a few miles down Storrow Drive this evening to take on their longtime Hockey East rivals, the Boston University Terriers. Sixty minutes wasn’t enough to get this one sorted as the sides played some bonus hockey before the Huskies got it done with less than 2mins left to play in overtime.
Gwyneth Philips was between the pipes for the Huskies facing off against her old bud Alexa Matses in net for the Terriers. Both netminders were tested throughout the first with Matses seeing more pucks but with Philips facing more grade A scoring chances. Philips stood tall against multiple odd man rushes and denied a bid midway through the period when a BU forward walked in alone. The Huskies had the zone time advantage, but were loose in their defensive zone coverage to open this one up, and it showed in the chances they were giving up. Luckily, the best goalie in the NCAA was ready to go (actual game pic of Philips) .
The best individual chance in the opening frame was Allie Lalonde who was robbed by Matses with a flash of the glove late in the period. For the first 20mins the 2 lines that stood out to me were the top line and the 4th line. Both were generating chances, and hard on the forecheck but The Nailgun Line had the best sequences. Lily Brazis, flanked by Mia Langlois and Holly Abela were all over the sheet and in BU’s kitchen on every single shift.
The teams retired for the first intermission almost dead even in stats and with matching gooses on the scoreboard and the tension started to dial up. The Huskies continued to be chasing the puck in their own end to open the period and it cost them when Clara Yune beat Philips over the shoulder to put BU on the board. It was another odd man rush that beat the NU defensive coverage and the backcheck was virtually nonexistent allowing Yune a wide open shooting lane from about 8 feet out.
The Huskies looked as if they were already on their holiday break once they fell behind. BU ramped up the pressure and created havoc for the Huskies outlet attempts. Puck management was an issue all period and the unforced turnovers were limiting the Huskies offensive zone setup. Thankfully Philips was on her game (again and always, in Gwnyeth we trust) and got some help down low from Kristina Allard, Jules Constantinople and Abbey Marohn. Allard especially made some great individual plays in keeping the BU pressure to the outside.
The third was fairly even in terms of zone time and puck possession but the puck management woes continued for the Huskies and it looked like they were going to head for the holiday break on a down note. Until they weren’t. Ella Blackmore walked down the LW and drove the net with the puck on her forehand. Watch the clip below and see how she froze Matses with a dip of her shoulder to sell the backhand move before tucking it around the sprawled out netminder on the far side. Shoutout to Allard for that perfect drop pass and a great job by Lalonde to drive the far post.
That score held until the final horn and the 2 sides were headed to OT. In overtime, BU had the edge in possession but NU had the edge in net. Philips was out of her mind in the extra period and by far the best player on the ice. Then The Mayor of Kingston entered the chat. Skylar Irving won a great puck battle behind her own net and then showed off her wheels breaking up ice with The Matrix, Peyton Anderson. Irving gave the puck over to Anderson just as she broke into the BU zone and Anderson moved slightly laterally drawing the D and fed Irving walking down Main Street. Irving went forehand-backhand-OT game winner. I feel like this is the perfect time to point out that Skirvs was my guest on The Morning Skate podcast earlier this week (that hopefully should be out later this weekend). I mean, the TMS Glowup is a real phenomenon. Does anyone else on the squad need a little boost to their game? Let me know and we’ll have you on the pod.
The Huskies now head out for some much needed holiday rest and relaxation and are back in January with 4 on the road, kicking off at Yale before heading to Holy Cross and then a pair up in Maine. Nothing sounds more glamorous than a mid-January weekend getaway to Orono.
Keep an eye out for Kelly Dyer Hayes (NU Hall of Fame.. not a big deal) coming on the podcast and I’m sure Coach Carp will be making an appearance during the break. Until then, enjoy your holidays and see you at Historic Matthews Arena after the new year.
Some observations from the couch:
- Katy Knoll (TPPFIWHT) and Taze Thompson on Irving’s wings were flying tonight. It’s great to see their leadership in the effort and energy they bring to each and every shift.
- In the absence of Megan Carter and Lily Yovetich, I want to give some shine to the rest of the D corp. The aforementioned Marohn, Allard, Constantinople, along with Tory Mariano, Taylor Guarino and Rylie Jones have been playing outstanding in the absence of the top pair. Great job all around.
- Lalonde isn’t just all silky mitts and dangles. She showed her mettle with some solid wall work in OT when she battled multiple BU defenders so her linemates could make a change. Doesn’t show up on the score sheet, but great stuff.
- BU wins the Petty Wars by not allowing the Huskies to rock those sweet red sweaters again. Hey BU, you all can wear the red, the Huskies will take the dub.
- I’d be remiss if I didn’t single out Constantinople on the back end. She’s playing so solidly It’s almost as if she’s the Hockey East Defender of the Month
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