It was not a case of deja vu for the Northeastern men’s hockey team.

Against Colgate University in their opener last year, the Huskies skated to a 3-3 tie, the first contest in an 11-game streak of futility (0-9-2).

On Saturday in Hamilton, N.Y., against Colgate, the Huskies were lifted by a late Bryan Cirullo goal, a game-winning shot with four seconds left in overtime to carry the team to a 4-3 overtime win, notching the team’s second win (2-3-0) of the season.

Northeastern skated with a mission having lost three straight since a memorable upset over preseason No. 1 University of Michigan, and were trying to erase a penalty kill problem that allowed Miami University (Ohio), University of Denver and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (N.Y.) to net three power play goals, respectively, in each of its matchups.

“We kind of beat ourselves in the RPI and Denver games,” said Northeastern coach Bruce Crowder. “I thought we really took a hard look at ourselves. For the most part, we were better on the power play and we were better on five on five. We’ve got some things to do on the penalty kill still, but I think for the most part we’re going in the right direction.”

The Huskies countered with three power play goals of their own against Colgate, while handing the 15th-ranked Raiders their first loss of the season (4-1-0).

Senior forward Jared Murdyk returned for the game and was an immediate impact, scoring the game’s first goal 4:47 into the first period.

Joe Santilli, who sat out all but three games last year as a medical redshirt, assisted on the play along with Cirullo, the first of his two points on the night.

Holding a 1-0 lead into the second period, both teams then put on a scoring show, placing five goals between the pipes in 20 minutes of play.

Marc Fulton tied the game for the Raiders at 2:20 of the second period with Kyle Wilson setting him up on the power play shot.

Bryan Esner responded less than two minutes later for Northeastern at 4:01, with Mike Morris and Yale Lewis gaining assists.

“Our puck movement on the power play was good, we really moved the puck, it was clean and crisp,” Crowder said. “If you’re not making good passes on the power play, it doesn’t matter what the coach is doing as far as Xs and Ys. If it’s not getting there, it’s not going to matter.”

NU held a close shots edge in the period (eight to seven) as the two teams continued to pace each other with close, physical play.

Jon Smyth tied the game again 2-2 with a shot past NU goalie Keni Gibson. Wilson helped again, making his second assist of the game.

At 11:20, Lewis and Morris were a force again up front, as Lewis netted a Morris rebound. Defender Steve Birnstill assisted on the play.

“I’m happy with our power play goals,” Morris said. “Special teams is a big part of the game. It’s good that other guys were stepping up, we need everyone to chip in.”

The power play was the difference again in the last score before overtime, as Smyth found the open net again with a goal at 13:13.

With only three penalties in the third period (all Colgate) neither team could find the advantage, allowing for 31:43 of scoreless play before Cirullo’s game-winner.

“It was a great play by Esner to set him up,” Crowder said of Cirullo’s goal. “Esner, in his last two games, has been playing his best hockey and he made a nice play at the blue line, holding up, while everyone went to the net.”