Once every couple of weeks, Northeastern goaltender Keni Gibson admitted, the thought of raising the Beanpot trophy high and proud seeped into his and his teammates’ conversations.
“You try not to talk about it too much during the year,” said NU’s all-time leader in shutouts, goals against average and save percentage. “But every once in a while, every couple of weeks, it’s come up.”
Three years down in the history books, with just one Beanpot final appearance to show for it, Gibson and his fellow seniors were well aware of the circumstances that faced them in the first round of the 53rd annual tournament.
Behind senior defenseman Tim Judy’s dramatic double-overtime goal, the Huskies, and their championship-starved veteran core, got one step closer to their dream with a 2-1 victory against No. 10 Harvard University Monday at the FleetCenter.
Harvard defenseman Tom Walsh attempted to clear the puck out of a crowded Crimson zone, but Judy stood in the way at the high slot, intercepting the effort and sending the puck top shelf past a screened Dov Grumet-Morris at the 2:01 mark.
The overtime thriller, which at three hours, 20 minutes was the third longest game in the history of Husky and Beanpot hockey, sets up a showdown with cross-town rival No. 14 Boston University (Monday, 8 p.m., FleetCenter), after the Terriers handled the No. 1 Boston College on their way to a 2-1 win. Last time out on Jan. 7, BU skated to a 3-1 win over the Huskies in front of a packed Matthews Arena. “An overtime goal is the greatest feeling in any game,” said Judy, who, due to the traffic in front of him, didn’t even realize he had scored until the red light flashed. “Especially in the Beanpot, it’s unbelievable. I still haven’t really calmed down from it. Coach [Bruce Crowder] always says to shoot the puck and good things will happen, and that’s what happened.”
Crowder, whose celebration from the bench rivaled that of his Huskies on the ice, had strong sentiments for his fourth-year blueliner.
“Pound for pound, I don’t think anybody in the league competes harder than Tim Judy,” he said. “Every night he hasn’t changed that since he was a freshman coming in here playing with Jimmy Fahey.”
Gibson, who finished with 39 saves, echoed his coach’s sentiments.
“It couldn’t have happened to a better man,” he said with a smile. “He deserves all the recognition.”
Disappointment after disappointment has yet to deter the Husky seniors, and Crowder couldn’t be happier for them.
“I think it’s very special,” Crowder said of the team’s place in the Beanpot final. “These guys have been through a lot and they’ve persevered. There’s been a couple tough years here where they didn’t make the Hockey East playoffs. They lost by a point one year, a tiebreaker the other. They haven’t quit, and that’s a sign that we’re getting great leadership.” With the loss, the Crimson seniors were denied a chance at a Beanpot final. Harvard hasn’t advanced since 1998. First-year coach and former Boston Bruin, Harvard and Catholic Memorial player Ted Donato said he knew his team had chances to win, however.
“I told my guys after, as a player, I used to regret that I thought I had more to give or could have done something,” he said. “But I know our guys left it on the ice and battled, and could barely stand after it.
“For the senior class, seeing the end of their college career near, a large part of me was hoping these guys could experience a Beanpot final. It’s a heartbreaking loss, but I’m proud of my guys and the way they played. They gave themselves plenty of chances to win.”
The Huskies helped the Crimson by giving them a total of 5:26 of power play time in the first overtime period, but surrendered just three shots on net during their penalty kill.
“We showed great character on the penalty kill,” Judy said. “We kept it tight, and made sure their shorts were from the outside, and that they didn’t get second and third opportunities. Our penalty kill was unbelievable today.”
Gibson recorded 11 saves in the first extra frame, and stayed composed despite a number of close Harvard opportunities. Seconds in, Crimson captain Noah Welch fired a shot from the blueline that was just wide.
In the second OT period, the Crimson were even closer to ending the contest when a shot to Gibson hit Harvard defender Ryan Murphy at the right side of the crease. The puck stayed behind Gibson ,but was cleared out.
“I just focused on every shot, every save,” Gibson said of the sudden death pressure. “I knew my guys would do a good job trying to let me see it. We’ve been in situations so much like that, late in games, with penalties against us. We do it a lot, and we mature with it and we don’t panic. I could tell the guys in front of me weren’t panicking and that makes me feel a lot better.”
Harvard tallied the game’s first point 59 seconds in, when Kevin Du sped in from the right side, speeding around Husky defenseman Brian Deeth past the slot, and forcing a backhand past Gibson for his fifth goal of the year.
The Huskies would not let Harvard keep the lead for the second period, as Mike Morris tied the contest after a faceoff from the left side in the Crimson zone. Captain Jason Guerriero won the faceoff, which found its way back to Morris, who then lifted it past Grumet-Morris in the top corner.
“You don’t let it get to you,” Gibson said of the early deficit against the ranked Crimson. “There was lots of time to battle back. We didn’t get a goal until later, but we didn’t worry too much because we knew if we kept working things could happen.
“This is huge, this comes with a lot of bragging rights. When you come to one of these schools you have in mind that you want to win a Beanpot; it’s one of your goals during your four years. Luckily I have one more shot.”
NU -2, UMass -1
Mike Morris’ shorthanded goal 19:28 into the second period was the game-winner in a 2-1 decision for the Huskies over the University of Massachuetts, Thursday at Matthews Arena.
Minuteman Kevin Jarmen opened up the scoring 4:03 into the second to give UMass the 1-0 lead, but Jason Guerriero responded over a minute later on assists from Jared Mudryk and Morris.
NU goaltender Keni Gibson stopped 28 for the Huskies while Gabe Winer recorded 20 for the Minutemen.
