Northeastern men’s ice hockey’s four-game winning streak, their best Hockey East start since 2008-09, came to an end Saturday night at the Tsongas Arena in Lowell, Massachusetts. The UMass Lowell Riverhawks scored three goals in the game’s final period, making a comeback for a 4-2 victory over the visiting Huskies.
“I’m disappointed with our effort,” said Jim Madigan, Fernie Flaman Men’s Hockey head coach. “In this league, you can’t play well for one period and think you’re going to win a hockey game. We won one period and they won two periods, and they won the game.”
Northeastern gained control of the puck early in the game, taking advantage of a five-on-four power play. Third-year forward Adam Gaudette fed a stray puck to fourth-year forward and captain Nolan Stevens, who in turn set up second-year defenseman Jeremy Davies for his first goal of the season and the Huskies’ first of the game.
Gaudette’s two assists in Saturday night’s game leave him just one point away from becoming the 51st player in Northeastern history to reach 100 career points, and the 22nd to reach that milestone in three years or less. Fourth-year forward Dylan Sikura became the 50th player in team history to do this on Oct. 20.
UMass Lowell tied the game late in the opening period with a power play goal of their own. The Riverhawks won the face-off in the attacking zone, allowing second-year forward Kenny Hausinger to sneak the puck under the arm of first-year goaltender Cayden Primeau.
The Huskies’ second goal of the game came during a power play late in the second period, off Stevens’ stick to earn him his seventh goal of the season.
Hitting the ice for the final period, it appeared as though the Red and Black’s luck had run out. Just over two minutes in, the Riverhawks scored their second goal of the game, which was quickly followed up by a third. The hosts added an open net goal to ensure their win with 48.8 seconds remaining after Primeau was pulled from net to favor an extra attacker on the ice.
Northeastern remains the second seed in Hockey East standings despite the loss in Lowell, and stands at No. 12 in U.S. College Hockey Online polls.
The Huskies head back to Huntington Avenue this weekend, hosting a pair of games at Matthews Arena. The team is set to face off against the University of Vermont on Friday night and Boston College on Saturday night, both at 7 p.m.
