Your Northeastern Huskies welcomed in the Maine Black Bears this afternoon for the back half of their 2-game series at Historic Matthews Arena. The Huskies blanked the visitors 2-0 and (for those counting at home), that’s the fourth straight dub and they’ve outscored their opponents 6-1 over that span. Nothing better than a matinee on a Saturday, especially when your power play is clicking and your goalie is unbeatable.
It was the same cast of characters as last night’s game, including in the nets. Kiia Lahtinen manned the pipes for the Black Bears and it was Lisa Jönsson who got the start for the Huskies. What a world for these 2 goalies. They’re both from halfway across the world and they’re starting in net at the D1 level as freshman. Ask yourself what you were doing freshman year in college and let me know how far short you fall of these two.
The opening frame was disjointed and lacked a certain flow, tough to get the game progressing the right way when it was a steady stream of icing calls by both squads. Sometimes it takes a good shift, a goal, a great defensive play to rally the troops. Sometimes it’s a physical play that galvanizes a squad. If your from an older generation you may remember a human cruise missile named Scott Stevens who played for the New Jersey Devils. Those hits nowadays would get him locked up, suspended and most likely tarred and feathered. The Huskies don’t have a Stevens in their lineup, but they do have a Yovo. Lily Yovetich set the tone in the first when she stood up a Maine player at the blue line and that seemed to snap the Huskies into the here and now. I don’t have a clip of that play, but here’s a montage of Stevens. Imagine him with longer hair and wearing #16 and you get the idea. Even Yovo herself said that her NHL comp was Stevens when I had her on the podcast. You can listen for yourself here if you haven’t caught it yet.
NU seemed to wake up and had their skating legs going after the hit and an early PP. The zone time was piling up in NU’s favor while Maine was stymied, being only able to chip and chase the puck out of their D-zone with no offensive setup. The Huskies best chances of the period were a late flurry where they had multiple chances in the Maine zone but couldn’t get one past Lahtinen.
The teams came out for the 2nd and the game play was noticeably more even. Both teams had chances but neither could crack the goalies’ cheat code. Jönsson had a tremendous sequence at the 7min mark where Maine had NU pinned in their own zone and she made a number of saves in close. The Huskies couldn’t get the puck out of their zone while Maine was cycling fresh players onto the sheet to contain the gassed Huskies. Finally Ella Blackmore had a great block up high and broke down the ice with a bid on Lahtinen but the Honeybadger didn’t cash in.
And then Stripes entered the chat. A parade of infractions (ticky-tacky at best) had both teams practicing their special teams for the majority of the time left in the second. Ultimately it was The Captain who cashed in with a put away at the right post. Jules Constantinople put the puck on net from the top of the zone and the rebound found Taze Thompson at the right post and she put it far side top shelf over a sprawled out Lahtinen. 1-0 and the ‘Dawgs were on the board. I mean I’ve been saying this for years: Good things happen when you go to the net.
And since it was the game-winner, the media crew gave you another look at this one.
In the 3rd, the curious calls from the on-ice officiating crew continued and in some cases increased. I don’t understand some of these calls, but they need to ref in a vacuum and not ref the scoreboard or the time clock. Jaden Bogden was elbowed in the grill with no call, but Thompson tapped a player’s skates and was whistled for 2mins? Just keep it consistent Stripes.
Holly Abela drew a penalty with 8mins to go and the PP got to work again. This time is was The Mayor of Kingston who got involved. Tory Mariano put a shot on net from the RW circle and the puck leaked through Lahtinen. Skylar Irving was at the crease and she slammed the puck home to put the Huskies up by 2 and the game out of reach. Skirvs wanted this one and you could see her excitement in the celly.
The score held until the final horn, and of course Stripes had to get involved late. First it was a call on Constantinople for (checks notes) standing her ground? Being stronger on her skates than the Maine player? Oh, you called that interference… suuuuuure. Even Stripes knew that was bogus as they called Jaidyn Britt for a 10-ply trip less than a minute later in a blatant make up call. Then just when you thought it was safe for a hockey game to keep going, Bogden got called for a phantom slash at 18:25 to have the side skate 6:4 once Maine pulled Lahtinen. Maybe the officiating crew is looking for a NESN gig and they wanted more screen time?
In the end it didn’t matter as NU ran out the clock and almost got the ENG due to a great eat by Abela at the top of the NU zone late. Way to sacrifice the body for the W.
Some observations from around the rink:
- Holly Abela does everything correctly. Must be a coach’s dream to have on the squad.
- Rylie Jones put one off the crossbar today. Since you have a great shot maybe a few more on net Ms. Jones?
- Glad to see Tory Mariano get the primary apple on Skylar Irving’s goal. The way Mariano got lit up by her teammates for her musical taste was borderline abusive on the Jumbotron.
- Lisa Jönsson has 3 shutouts in her last 4GP and is rocking a .970% save percentage and a 0.84 GAA. I’m not sure, but is that good?
- The line of Morgan Jackson, Ellie Mabardy, and Peyton Compton were jumping all night. While short in stature, all 3 play big and hunt the puck relentlessly. I’m thinking the Munchkin Line? Like the Dunkin’ box of Munchkins? Let me know what you think.
Jackson – Mabardy – Compton
Lastly a quick stick tap to the entire roster for taking the time out to welcome in a youth squad (or 3) to the locker room after the game. The players were all gracious and took the time to talk to all the kids (even a few stowaways that came in with a podcaster) and sign their posters, hats and sticks. I can say for certain that one little girl already has her newly signed poster hanging in her bedroom.
The Huskies are off for 2 weeks before welcoming in Boston College at Matthews on 11/30. Keep your head on a swivel for a podcast coming up where I get to chat with Jules Constantinople.
Some love for the ‘tendy
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