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UConn men’s hockey’s weekend ended with two losses as the Huskies were smacked by the No. 12 Providence Friars, 6-4. The Huskies fall to 6-5-0 on the season and 4-3-0 in Hockey East.
Providence struck first and forced UConn to chase the rest of the game. The Huskies went down by as many as three goals at one point but clawed back within one before the Friars pushed it back to three in the final period.
The six goals are the most UConn has allowed this season. Goaltender Darion Hanson had a tough night, stopping just 30 of 36 shots he faced — an .833 save percentage.
Providence jumped ahead just over five minutes in when Nick Poisson’s shot deflected and rolled across the crease to Kohen Olischefski, who put the puck into the open net. But as UConn’s done for much of the season, it responded quickly. A little more than a minute later, Jarrod Gourley sniped a shot into the top-right corner to tie the game at 1-1.
It didn’t take long for Gourley to return the favor to the Friars, though. He went to the box for boarding 28 seconds after his goal and the hosts quickly capitalized. Though Providence hadn’t scored a power play goal in its last 18 periods, Parker Ford put an end to that. He got the puck between the circles, spun and sent a shot past Hanson to put the Friars back up, 2-1.
The Huskies got their first power play chance midway through the first period and held it in Providence’s zone for the duration of the two minutes but spent more time passing it around than actually attempting any shots.
After giving up goals at the end of the second and third periods on Friday night, UConn continued the trend on Saturday. With 1:13 remaining, Matt Koopman attempted to pass from behind the net but the puck hit Hanson’s skate and went in to give the Friars a two-goal advantage.
The Huskies had a chance to mount a comeback in the second period. What started as a Providence power play eventually turned into a 4-on-3 and 5-on-3 advantage for UConn. While the Huskies got the puck in some dangerous spots, the Friars’ defense came up with a stop every time.
Not long after Providence’s last penalty expired, UConn’s Nick Capone went to the box for roughing. Once again, the Friars capitalized when Max Crozier re-direct a shot from Poisson through Hanson’s five-hole to give his team a 4-1 lead.
The Huskies didn’t go down without a fight, though. Ryan Tverberg scored in his fifth-straight game to get them back within two entering the second intermission. UConn came out flying in the third period and eventually broke through when Hudson Schandor slipped a pass across the crease to a wide-open Jonny Evans on the back post, who buried a one-timer.
The hope didn’t survive long, though. Providence caught UConn on a 2-on-1 and Jamie Engelbert delivered the dagger, pushing the gap to 5-3. The Friars added another on a power play — their third power play goal of the day — while Capone added a garbage time goal to bring the final line to 6-4.
The Huskies finished 0-3 on the power play while Providence went 3-5.
Next, UConn will look to rebound with a weekend series against UMass Lowell. The Huskies will make the trip up to the Tsongas Center on Saturday, Nov. 20 for a 6:05 p.m. puck drop.
Goals
Olischefski gave us a 1-0 lead cleaning up the trash in the crease. His fourth of the season with assists to Poisson and Crozier. pic.twitter.com/vd4mr0vdjO
— PC Men's Hockey (@FriarsHockey) November 14, 2021
Here is Gourley's first goal for the #IceBus He had 7 in his 3 seasons at Arizona State. pic.twitter.com/7LoIKmV55H
— UConn Men's Hockey (@UConnMHOC) November 14, 2021
Ford's fifth of the year regained the lead for us on the power play! Poisson and Callahan with the assists. pic.twitter.com/vUGIwZ05Pb
— PC Men's Hockey (@FriarsHockey) November 14, 2021
.@mattyice30 with a little bank shot
— PC Men's Hockey (@FriarsHockey) November 14, 2021
His first of the season assisted by Needham and Duran. pic.twitter.com/aDgcEz77l8
Crozier's third of the year gave us a 4-1 lead! Poisson notched his third apple of the night, Engelbert also earned an assist on the play.#GoFriars pic.twitter.com/33jAdhsEGc
— PC Men's Hockey (@FriarsHockey) November 14, 2021
Ryan Tverberg finds the back of the net in five-straight games. Pulls the #IceBus within 4-2 in the 2nd period. pic.twitter.com/KB6a31ZIgY
— UConn Men's Hockey (@UConnMHOC) November 14, 2021
Evans gets his 2nd of the season on a nifty pass from Hudson Schandor, ending a seven-game drought. #IceBus within 4-3 pic.twitter.com/tHsY3iafJA
— UConn Men's Hockey (@UConnMHOC) November 14, 2021
HUGE insurance goal by Engelbert, his third of the season to make it 5-3! Assists to Callahan and Yoder on the play.#GoFriars pic.twitter.com/UBV1p4WbJ5
— PC Men's Hockey (@FriarsHockey) November 14, 2021
Berard's team-high eighth goal of the season makes it 6-3! Poisson nets his FOURTH primary assist of the night.#GoFriars pic.twitter.com/xjEYuQTy8F
— PC Men's Hockey (@FriarsHockey) November 14, 2021
UConn GOAL!!!
— UConn Men's Hockey (@UConnMHOC) November 14, 2021
Nick Capone hammers one past Stauber at 16:37 to pull within 6-4 pic.twitter.com/TDhCva1ttj
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