After coming off an upsetting 4-2 loss to the University of Massachusetts Lowell (8-18-4, 4-12-3 HE) Friday, the Northeastern men’s hockey team (14-13-2, 7-12-0 HE) bounced back to get a 4-0 shutout win at Matthews Arena. The Huskies won their sixth Beanpot in the last seven years Feb. 12, and after losing to the River Hawks, they were hungry to get back into the winning column.
UML dominated possession in the first period, taking shot after shot. In the 15th minute, Lowell had an opportunity to score when freshman forward Dylan Hryckowian was called for interference. However, Northeastern held its own during the penalty, denying the River Hawks a goal.
Only getting off five shots on goal, the Huskies’ defense was the saving grace during the first period and kept the score 0-0 entering the next. Freshman goaltender Cameron Whitehead, coming off receiving the Eberly Award at the Beanpot, made 16 saves in just the first period.
Northeastern came into the second period playing more cohesively and doubled its first-period shots in just 10 minutes.
The Huskies got their first power play at the start of the 16th minute when UML senior forward Jake Stella was put in the box for high-sticking. The team was able to string together four shots but failed to score.
However, five seconds after the 5-on-4 play ended, senior forward Gunnarwolfe Fontaine, who scored the winning overtime goal at the Beanpot finals, found the back of the net. Sophomore forward Jack Williams slid the puck to Fontaine in the slot. UML’s defense could not get in front of Fontaine quick enough, giving him a direct swing at the net and he sent the puck flying right under the crossbar. The Huskies claimed the lead 1-0, giving them a massive boost of momentum entering the third period.
Only two minutes into the final twenty, Dylan Hryckowian tried to take a swing but missed the puck and instead skated it behind the net. Senior forward Alex Campbell crept close to the right side of the goal and waited for a pass. Dylan Hryckowian sent it flying to Campbell, who pushed it in from the crease to extend the Husky lead 2-0 and earn his 50th career goal.
In the eighth minute, sophomore defenseman Hunter McDonald was penalized for roughing and gave the River Hawks a chance to get on the board. However, Northeastern’s defense kept UML to just two shots during the power play.
The Huskies didn’t stay at even strength for long, though. It became a 4-on-4 game after matching penalties in the twelfth minute sent Fontaine and Lowell graduate student forward Nick Granowicz to the box. A minute into the penalties, sophomore forward Cam Lund passed to Williams in the Huskies attack zone as UML’s defense struggled to get set. With no one but senior goaltender Henry Welsch in front of him, Williams scored his 16th goal this season, tying Campbell once again for the highest on the team.
Even with a comfortable 3-0 lead, Northeastern still wasn’t finished claiming revenge on the River Hawks. Sophomore defenseman Vinny Borgesi was called for slashing with just over four minutes left to play. UML head coach Norm Bazin pulled Welsch to give UML a 6-on-4 advantage. In Northeastern’s zone, a faceoff won by junior forward Justin Hryckowian put the puck in graduate student defenseman Pito Walton’s hands, who swung it across the ice. The puck slid right into the empty net, earning the Huskies a 4-0 statement win.
Whitehead had a career-high 42 saves on only his second shutout game, again showing how essential he is to the Huskies’ lineup.
Northeastern takes on an away series against No. 7 University of Maine (18-8-2, 10-7-1 HE) this weekend. Friday’s, Feb. 23, game is set for 7 p.m.
