Your Northeastern Huskies rolled North tonight to take on the University of Maine Black Bears at the Alfond Sports Arena in breezy, balmy Orono. As has been the case as of late, if it’s not the Beanpot or an opponent that’s sitting higher in the standings, the Huskies have developed a frustrating habit of playing to their opponent’s level. That was the case again tonight as Northeastern left (another) 3 Hockey East points sitting on the sheet and dropped this one 2-0 to the Black Bears.
The lineup remained virtually intact, but Taylor Guarino subbed in on the back end as the coaching staff went back to the traditional 6 D with 1 extra forward. In net it was the newly crowned Rookie of the Month and Semifinalist for Goalie of the Year: Lisa Jönsson. Not a big deal, she just rolled into tonight’s tilt with a 1.26GAA and a .950%SV.
I’m not a big stats guy, but is that good?
In net for Maine was their own freshman sensation from overseas: Finland’s Kiia Lahtinen. If memory serves, Sweden and Finland have a fairly good hockey rivalry on the international stage. It should be fun to see this one play out in Hockey East over the next 4 years.
The games’ pace opened at cruise control and the Black Bears seemed fine to play the chip and chase game that the Huskies opened with. There was not a lot of zone time set up for either side in the first as both teams had their forecheck legs going. Jönsson had the best sequence in the period when she made 2 quick saves on her doorstep at the 13 minute mark. Not sure where the NU defense was on that one?
The NU highlight in the middle frame (in my opinion) was a big-league serious backcheck by Jaden Bogden at the goalmouth. A 2:1 into the NU zone saw the puck sent into the slot from the RW and if not for Bogden getting her stick on the centering pass, that puck was in the back of the net. Great hustle by 74, isolate that play and show it to every young player on how to not give up on a play.
Lily Shannon had the best/closest/most frustrating offensive bid when her deflected lob shot just skimmed off the crossbar and landed on the top of the net behind Lahtinen. Maybe The Hockey Gods were in favor of Maine’s alternate 3rd jerseys? It looked as if the sides were headed to the 2nd intermission knotted at gooses, until they weren’t.
With under 2 minutes to play in the 2nd, Jamie Grinder (great hockey name!) put a shot on net from the RW that Jönsson denied but the puck bounded into the slot to Lily Fetch who was somehow uncovered? Fetch put the puck on net from the slot and then followed her own bouncing rebound to the left post where she tucked it home on the backhand. No chance for Jönsson on this one.
That score held until NU pulled Jönsson with 2:14 left to play in regulation but the Huskies couldn’t get the equalizer with the extra attacker. Maine however, would put home an empty netter by Stephanie Jacob to salt this one away. Assist on the ENG went to Mikayla Boarder – another great hockey name!
I will say that the Huskies kicked into another gear in the 3rd, but what about the previous 40 minutes? I’m not a fan of kicking anyone when they’re down – and if you’ve read any of these write-ups in the past you know I’m pro-Husky all the way, BUT! This loss along with the 2 losses to Providence (call it The Beanpot Overlook Series) and the loss to Vermont (not a typo) leaves 12 points sitting on the table. I don’t know the last time you’ve perused the Hockey East standings, but add 12 to the Huskies point total (carry the one) and they’d be comfortably in first place. With only 4 regular season games to play, it’s time to get going Ladies!
And lastly, friend of the podcast Jules Constantinople got absolutely bundled by Stripes tonight. Guess I should lay off my critisicms of the on-ice officials? I swear I didn’t know they’d take it out on one of the players. Sorry Jules, that’s on me.. Guess I now owe you a burrito.
The Huskies have a pair vs. Boston College next weekend, including the last regular season home game of the year at Historic Matthews Arena. Hope to see you!
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