Your Northeastern Huskies started off the new year with a trip down to The Whale, (Ingalls Rink) to take on the Yale Bulldogs in a rematch of last year’s “Game to Make the Frozen Four”. Without the same stakes, tonight’s game ended up being as nerve-wracking as the last time these teams faced off with the pressure mounting as the game clock wound down. When it was all said and done it took some extra hockey, but the Huskies got it down and head back up I-95 with the 2-1 dub in the books.
The game started off sluggish, at least for the Huskies, as the time of possession (and which end of the rink they were playing on) skewed heavily in the Bulldog’s favor. The Bulldog’s were quicker on the puck and seemed to have more jump in the early going. Luckily for the Huskies, there was one player on the squad who was ready from the opening draw: Gwyneth Philips. The Great Wall of Gwyneth was on full display through this entire game and Philips set her season high in saves (and came close to challenging her career high) in the win. A fluky goal by Kiersten Goode in the second half of the first would prove to be the only blemish on an outstanding night by Philips as she arguably played the best game of her season tonight as Yale outshot NU 16-5 in the opening 20 minutes.
Later in the first NU looked as if they tied up the game when Lily Brazis seemed to get her first of the season with some strong work in the Yale zone, but the goal was disallowed due to Ella Blackmore getting a hand on the puck on it’s way to the net. Look, The Nailgun deserved this one and Blackmore did NOTHING to alter the path of the puck. I mean that one was going in no matter what. I’d like the refs to have the discretion to realize that Blackmore didn’t change the course of the puck and decide to use common sense and give the goal to NU. Alas, they didn’t and the teams headed into the first intermission with NU down by a goal. Quick note: I don’t want to cause any beef between liney’s, but in my opinion Blackmore owes Brazis lunch. Maybe a burrito to make things right?
In the middle frame it was more of the same. The zone time and possession favored the Bulldogs but Philips was lights out. Abbey Marohn with the defensive play of the period when she took on Elle Hartje 1:1 in the NU zone. Marohn walled off Hartje’s path and bodied her to the side scooping the puck up and out of the zone. Just a couple of Michigan gals renewing acquaintances. Great job by the entire NU defense for keeping Hartje off the scoresheet, she’s an absolute weapon for the Bulldogs putting up 149pts in 113GP.
The 2 teams opened the 3rd with the same score and the same lopsided SOG 32-10 in favor of the Bulldogs, (in Gwyneth we trust, print the shirts!) but the Huskies came out in the final frame with a noticeable jump and were contesting pucks all over the sheet. Lily Shannon drew a penalty early in the 3rd and the Huskies rolled out for the only PP of the game with a relatively clean sheet. Skylar Irving dragged the puck into the LW corner and found Rylie Jones at the top of the umbrella who moved it over to Jules Constantinople at the top of the RW circle. The local celebrity made no mistake with the one-timer and beat Pia Dukaric over her far shoulder for the equalizer.
The Bulldogs wouldn’t lay down though and continued to press as the 2 teams got a little loose and started giving up chances. Luckily, the reigning best goalie in the nation was absolutely dialed and wasn’t starting off her new year with an L. Maybe it’s one of her resolutions?
The teams skated out the final ticks and headed for a 3 on 3 overtime period. Who would step up? Who would want the puck in this situation? Is that Stone Cold’s music? No Chumley, that’s the Premier Power Forward in Women’s Hockey Today entrance song…..
The Mayor of Kingston was relentless in her pursuit of the puck after losing a heated battle at the dot. After chasing down multiple Bulldogs, Irving bullied her way 1:2 and generated a turnover deep in the Yale zone. Katy Knoll was busting up ice trailing the play and Irving laid it over to Knoll as she dropped into the Yale zone and gathered the puck at the top of the LW circle. With a nifty backhand move around the Yale defender, Knoll brought the puck back to her forehand as the defender laid on top of her dragging her down. As she was going to the ice, Knoll got off a shot that leaked over Dukaric’s left leg and into the back of the net for the OTGWG.
I mean that’s the way to start off a road trip. Not sure if it’s true, but I heard Coach Carp is springing for pizza on the way home.
The Huskies head home where they have a celebrity guest appearance at tomorrow night’s PWHL game when Boston hosts Minnesota at the Tsongas Center. The ladies then head off to Orono for a pair against the Black Bears this weekend.
Some observations from the couch:
- Welcome back Lily Yovetich! Great to see her out there wheeling the puck and playing the body. I’m sure it was on the Yale game notes to keep your head up: Yovo is back.
- Constantinople with a clapper to tie the game, would like to see more of that please
- Tough night at the dot for our heroes as they went a combined 15-44. I’m going to assume that’s due completely to rust.
- Kristina Allard and Tory Mariano looked real good out there. Allard especially was dancing in the early going, and had the most jump from the back end in the early part of the game. And Jones had her head up the whole way on the tying goal, looking to dish to Constantinople. Great work by all the D tonight.
- For those keeping score at home, Philips had a 0.978% save percentage tonight. I’m not a math guy, but I think that’s pretty good?
- For those that missed it: The Mayor of Kingston herself, Skylar Irving was on the podcast before the holiday break and you can find it here.
- And then during the holiday break, I was joined by an all-time legend of the game herself and a multiple Hall of Famer, Kelly Dyer Hayes. Her sole mission is to pack the TD Garden for the women’s Beanpot so you should check it out: you can find that one here.
- And since I mentioned the PWHL – our friend Chloé Aurard is tied for the league lead in goals after yesterday’s game with 2 apples in the NY victory over TOR.
- We have a new podcast coming out tomorrow with Coach Carp joining myself and Ked for the entire episode.
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