To usher in the new year, your Northeastern Huskies welcomed the Merrimack College Warriors to Historic Matthews Arena for their first matchup of the 2024-2025 campaign. The last time these 2 squads faced off it was in the Quarterfinals for Hockey East last season. The Huskies got the win 4-1, in a game featuring a veritable conga-line to the penalty box for both sides. This matchup was a much more disciplined affair, and the Huskies kept the good vibes going winning 3-1 to make that 6 wins in their last 7 contests.
Lisa Jönsson was in net for the Huskies as the freshman has secured the #1 slot here at Goalie U. If you’re the D-1 leader (in the nation!) in both GAA (0.88) and Save Percentage (.967%) I’d imagine it makes it pretty easy for the coaching staff to decide who should be between the pipes. The defensive pairings remained static since before the break, but up front the blender was a-buzzing. The coaching staff made some adjustments with the forward lines to welcome back Allie Lalonde and the results look promising. I wonder if all those missed calls I had from Coach Carp had something to do with the lines? He usually runs them by me before suggesting to Coach Flint. Oh well sorry I missed all your calls Carp, but at least it worked out.
Lily Shannon on the wing? Éloïse Caron and Morgan Jackson with Lalonde? The Honey Badger with the remainder of the Lollipop Guild Line? These do look like lines I would come up with!
The opening frame looked like a re-introduction for the squads. A lot of back and forth hockey with little to no setups in each others zones. NU had the shot advantage 12-6 but there were very few. what I would call good looks. That is until the last 3ish minutes of the period. NU got set up in the MC zone and worked a full zone cycle that saw a long puck possession. The Huskies were feeling it at the end of the period and one can only assume good things were to follow.
In the 2nd the pace and the physicality both ramped up and Tuva Kandell led the way with the latter part of that analysis. The Swedish freshman introduced herself to a number of the Merrimack forwards, And when I say “introduce” I don’t mean she extolled the virtues of ABBA, IKEA or Swedish meatballs. Put it this way, if the Huskies went bowling, Kandell was the ball and the MC forwards were the pins.
As the period progressed, the Huskies tilted the ice back towards the MC zone and it paid off in the closing minute. The OG Nailgun Lily Brazis, looking pretty comfortable at the 3rd line pivot, went where else? To the blue paint and she got greasy. A pile of humanity was at the front of Calli Hogarth‘s net and Brazis tucked the go-ahead goal home. This was The Nailgun’s 3rd goal of the season and you can see her confidence grow by the week. Great pass by Taze Thompson is in the foreground on the second video below. The captain put it right on Brazis’ tape.
In the 3rd Merrimack got one back as Sophie McKinley put a rebound home early in the period. The puck froze on a puddle in the RW corner and MC took advantage of the inadvertent turnover. A wide shot bounced off the end boards and McKinley tucked it home on the opposite side of the net. Assist to the Zamboni crew I guess? I’m sorry Sophie, there was no video posted by Merrimack for me to share. 1-1 and it’s a tie game early in the third.
But, just as the swallows return to Capistrano every year, there are some things that you can just count on. The Doghouse showing up for hockey games, Coach Carp asking my advice on lines, and Merrimack taking penalties at critical junctures of the hockey game. With 8mins to play, Hayley Chang got whistled for tripping and The Mayor of Kingston entered the chat.
You all remember Skylar Irving yes? The speed demon up front? The offensive juggernaut who is fresh off the 6 Nations tourney in Finland (the only Hockey East player on that squad, not a big deal). She took this power play opportunity and stuffed it home. Skirvs broke down the RW and dog-walked the MC defender with an outside-inside move and put the puck far side for the GWG. That was Irving going 1:3 (1:4 if you count the goalie), too easy. Top shelf extra cheddar.
Merrimack desperately tried to get back into this one late, but the Huskies were keeping them pinned in their own zone. MC finally got the goalie pulled with about a minute to go but Kandell led Jaden Bogden with a beauty of an outlet pass and Bogden put away the ENG. Great bookend of ENG’s for Bogden as she got one in the last game before the break vs. UNH and just like that previous goal, no video of her cookie. Is there no love for the empty-netters? Do they not count as much as a regular goal? There is no justice for Bogden yet again!
Some observations from the couch:
- Riley Jones had a monster 3rd period including just dominating once MC pulled their goalie. She was hard on the puck all night and dropped into the offensive zone a number of times.
- Caron got bodied in the 2nd and there was no call. It could have been a cross-check, rough or interference and I’m not posting this to call out the officials, as I’d much rather see them let the ladies play. I’m mentioning this because Caron did not retaliate or try to sell the call. Great maturity in the freshman.
- Lalonde didn’t look like she’s missed a step. I really like the line she centered with Caron and Jackson. A great combo that can stay together for the next 2 years.
- Kristina Allard took a blast to the midsection late in the first. Leadership comes in many different forms.
- Do you think Jönsson and MC’s Maria Lindberg were chirping each other in Swedish?
Tomorrow night the Holy Cross Crusaders, (fresh off a 3-0 beatdown from Boston University) roll into Matthews for a 7pm puck drop. See you there!
Bonus Skirvs
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The Morning Skate 