Takeaways: UConn Men’s Hockey Falls to Sacred Heart

On Saturday night, Sacred Heart took down the UConn men’s hockey team by a score of 3-1. Here are some takeaways from the contest, their fifth straight loss to the Pioneers.

Shots do not equal goals.

UConn put 45 shots on Brett Magnus and 83 attempts overall, but got just one goal. Sacred Heart were only able to get 22 shots for 33 attempts, but ended up with a trio of goals.

“We out-chanced them at least two-to-one and outshot them two-to-one,” head coach Mike Cavanaugh said.

“When you do that, you’re going to win most nights.”

The Huskies were throwing pucks at the net all evening, but could not solve Magnus.

Small sample sizes are fluky sample sizes.

Headed into the game, the Huskies were 6-for-13 on the power play and were 0-for-5 tonight. The pucks were going in against Maine and American International College, but tonight they just did not go in.

Sometimes, a goaltender gets hot.

Brett Magnus played really well. On every odd-man rush, every one-timer on the power play, he was there. The only goal the Huskies got during the contest came on a deflection off of a skate on a shot through traffic from the center point.

“You have to tip your hat to [Magnus], he played well,” Cavanaugh said. “Sometimes it happens that their goaltender plays really well.”

The Huskies got nine shots with the man advantage across four penalties and he saved all nine, some of which were impressive. He made about seven saves that were very good to even spectacular to keep the Pioneers in the lead. It was Rob Nichols-esuqe the way he was able to protect the lead.

For some reason, Sacred Heart still has UConn’s number. No, it is not something to worry about.

This loss to the Pioneers was not your older brother’s defeat at the hands of their old conference foe. This was the type of game that the Huskies used to be on the other side of, where they got outplayed but got an early lead against a superior opponent and held it.

They were the better team from start to finish, but just couldn’t get it done.

“I think in years past, we’ve lost to Sacred Heart and we’ve been outplayed,” Cavanaugh said. “I don’t think that’s the case tonight.”

It’s not like the Huskies aren’t on the other side of this, either. Since Mike Cavanaugh was hired, they are 4-2-1 against UMass Lowell, who some would argue is among the more elite programs in the nation. This sort of thing sometimes happens.

UConn (2-2-0) gets back on the ice on Friday evening at Agganis Arena in Boston when they take on the No. 2 Boston University to kick off their weekend series. Puck drop is at 7:30 p.m.