Your Northeastern Huskies traveled to the University of Connecticut to take on the Nutmeg State’s version of Huskies at the Toscana Family Ice Forum. This was a big Hockey East matchup and might provide a taste of what’s to come in the conference playoffs, but for tonight it was a chance to grab some points, settle who’s the better Husky in this round and get out of town with a 4-3 overtime win. Bus rides after dubs always hit different.
The Huskies took the ice wearing their Championship Red sweaters while the Uconn huskies had their fit game going as well with their navy sweaters sporting red and white trim. Just a great sweater matchup, and I’m not a jersey guy. It was also a bit of a goalie duel as the leading goalie in the nation (I mean when you have the best GAA and Save% coming into a game you get that title) took on the statically 4th best goalie (I’m going by what the telecast said, I didn’t look up any numbers, and honestly that’s not what you come here for). It was Lisa Jönsson vs. Tia Chan and all the experts predicted a tight low-scoring affair.
This game exploded off the opening draw as both teams had Grade A chances in the opening minute. But both net-minders were up to the task and the teams headed into the first intermission knotted at gooses. UConn outshot the Huskies by a 9-4 edge in the first frame, but as we’ve discussed – Jönsson.
In the 2nd it was Skylar Irving who put the Huskies on the board. After a tentative few opening minutes as neither side seemed to want to make a mistake, the Huskies had some setup time in the UConn zone and applied the pressure. Lily Yovetich put a wrister on net from the top of the umbrella and The Mayor of Kingston knocked it down in the slot where the puck trickled past Chan for the early lead.
The lead held until late in the 2nd, but then Jada Habisch did her best Bobby Orr impression. Gathering the puck off a face-off in the UConn zone, Habisch motored up ice dusting 4 Huskies en route to the bottom of the RW circle where she beat Jönsson far side to tie the game.
In the 3rd, a 10-ply tripping call on Éloïse Caron not only wiped a goal off the board (Sorry Morgan Jackson, I’d say it’s fair play that Elo owes you a burrito), but put the Huskies on the PK. And you know what’s coming right?
You gotta love it when Stripes gets involved in the game. That’s called foreshadowing, cause you’re not going to believe what happens later in this one!
With about 8 mins played, Lily Shannon tied it back up. Irving took the puck behind the UConn net and moving to her right towards the LW she found Shannon at the far post for the put away. Tie game! Stripes tried to wave this one off too, but both teams stopped playing as the Huskies celebrated. Stay hot Stripes. I mean you were only 6 feet away with an unobstructed view.
Less than 2mins later, Jaden Bogden put the Huskies ahead. Irving won the face-off to Shannon on the right side and she busted into the UConn zone. Shannon laid the puck across the goalmouth to Bogden at the far post and she tucked it in on the backhand. That’s a goal each for the top line today: watch out Hockey East.
And then Stripes got even MORE involved. A tangle up on the far boards saw Holly Abela called for a major?? C’mon man. At best that replay review should have showed the UConn player get Abela high and made it matching penalties. But Holly, if you’re reading this, please don’t worry; a play like that only helps you in the Brownie Standings. Ask Lily Brazis – we value grit.
After the review and the huddle and the discussion, the call on the ice is a 5:3 for 2mins and then the remaining time of a major? I mean I don’t know how Coach Flint keeps his composure behind the bench. And of course, again on the power play … UConn climbs back into this one courtesy of Habisch … again.
The Huskies killed off the rest of the major and seemed to get a bump from the successful PK. They were pushing the tempo and had the better chances as time wound down. Then it was off to overtime.. or was it? The refs awarded a hit from behind major to the Huskies? Make-up call much? This was the first power play for the Huskies (vs. 4 man advantages for UConn) and then in a move I’ve never seen before – the refs ADDED back 30 seconds to the clock and the sides had a 5:4 power play to close out regulation.
Then it was a 4:3 power play into overtime. Until Tuva-Time.
The Huskies held possession in OT to the point that when UConn finally cleared the puck, the Huskies transitioned back into the UConn zone quickly enough that UConn couldn’t change defenders while the Huskies got some fresh legs out there. Allie Lalonde had the puck on the RW half-wall and sent it to Jules Constantinople drifting in the high slot. Constantinople slid a short backhand to Tuva Kandell at the left point and she carried the puck for a few strides before putting a drag snap past Chan from the top of the LW circle. Great play by Lalonde to continue to drive the net and help with the chaos in front.
Sign me up for a 7-game series between these 2 teams please.
The Huskies head home and welcome in Boston University to Historic Matthews Arena on a rare Tuesday night. Hope the Terriers don’t have too much unresolved trauma facing the Huskies on a Tues night? Too soon Terriers?
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