By Chris Judd, News Staff
The last time the Northeastern men’s hockey visited Lowell on Jan. 26, the Huskies gave up a three-goal third period lead to eventually lose, 5-4, in overtime. But by the time the Huskies exited Tsongas Arena Saturday night, they had earned their first Hockey East win of the season in a 4-2 victory over 12th-ranked University of Massachusetts Lowell.
“I liked the way our guys handled themselves,” coach Jim Madigan said. “We were down a goal, battled back and the game ebbed and flowed and we found a way to win the game. I thought our composure in the third period was good and I thought our disposition as a team was good … We went into the game expecting to win and we played to win.”
The defending Hockey East champion River Hawks (6-4-0, 2-1-0 Hockey East) came out flying, placing 11 shots on junior goaltender Clay Witt in the first period. Lowell scored its first goal seven minutes into the game on a power play opportunity in which Christian Folin fired a shot that rebounded off the right post, where Adam Chapie was waiting and put it home.
Northeastern (6-3-0, 1-2-0 Hockey East), fired back with six minutes left in the first period. Freshman Mike Szmatula passed the puck to sophomore Kevin Roy on the power play, who buried a high wrist shot to tie the game.
The Huskies rode the momentum of Roy’s goal and took the lead two minutes later at the end of another power play opportunity. Dax Lauwers passed to fellow junior Torin Snydeman entering the attacking zone. Snydeman sped by a defender and passed to Szmatula, who was crashing the net and beat the goalie.
Special teams became crucial in the middle frame as the Huskies committed five consecutive penalties in the second period. The River Hawks capitalized on the series of man advantages as Derek Arnold scored a goal off a rebound to tie the game at 2-2.
Arnold’s goal was Lowell’s final goal on the evening as it was all Northeastern from there on out. Freshman Dalen Hedges reclaimed the lead for Northeastern as he scored on a rebound from sophomore Colton Saucerman with 7:30 to play in the second period.
“It’s a big transition from the league I played last year [Central Canada Hockey League], but it’s a lot of fun,” Hedges said. “I’m getting the opportunity to play on the power play, so it’s a lot of fun. Everyone’s faster, stronger and more skilled, so it’s a pretty big transition, but I’m having fun with it.”
The River Hawks had a chance to tie the game when they went on the power play with just under five minutes left in the third period. Lowell pulled its goaltender late in the power play to make it a 6-on-4 advantage, but Witt and the defense held.
Snydeman sealed the deal with an empty net goal in the final minute of play, solidifying the Huskies’ crucial first conference win.
For his efforts, Witt was named Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week. Witt tallied 32 saves on 34 chances, allowing Lowell’s only two goals to come on the power play.
“It’s a good honor and it was a good win for us on Saturday night,” Witt said. “[The defense] was fantastic. They did a really good job of taking away backboard guys, which let me be aggressive and take a shot.”
The combination of an effective defense and scoring from its younger ranks are proving to be the keys to success for Northeastern. Husky freshmen have combined for 44 points in nine games, with Szmatula recording a team-high 15 points. But Madigan said the team’s youngest players have been contributing even when it doesn’t show on the box score.
“I think they’ve all came along very well,” Madigan said. “I like the way Tanner Pond has played. He hasn’t gotten the offensive production [some of the others] have, but he is strong on pucks, heavy on pucks and brings the momentum to us. I like the way Matt Benning has played on defense and moves pucks and smarter in our own zone and is a good breakout guy. They’re all contributing in different ways, some a little more offensively than others, but they’re all contributing to our success.”
The Huskies, ranked 18th in the United States College Hockey Online (USCHO) Division I Men’s Poll, play New Hampshire (4-5-1, 2-2-0 Hockey East) at Matthews Arena on Friday and then head to Durham, N.H. Saturday for a home-and-home series with the Wildcats.
“UNH is a good team and they’re more of an offensive team,” Madigan said. “We’ve got to recognize their skill level and adjust to their skill level as well as staying on top of our game. I anticipate a 4-3 type of game because they can score goals and I think we have enough ability to score, but it’s how we defend at our net that will be the difference.”
