BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings
HARTFORD, CT – The XL Center’s best crowd for UCONN hockey, 4,632, witnessed Adam Huska’s solid goaltending, including a couple of shots that rang off the goal post, allowing the Huskies to settle for a 2-2 overtime tie against the UNH Wildcats on Friday night in the first part of a Hockey East home-and-home series.
The UCONN Huskies record is now 7-14-2 overall, 2-10-2 in the HEA. Meanwhile, UNH’s record is now 8-8-8 overall, and 4-5-5 in the HEA.
UMass-Amherst pulled away from Maine for a 4-2 win helping the Huskies in their quest for the final Hockey East playoff spot. They remain four points behind the Black Bears.
“It was a great college hockey game. Both teams played well at times. The first game in a while where we had rhythm. We got a pretty good effort. Adam (Huska) made some big saves, especially down the stretch and it sets us up for a big game tomorrow night.” stated UCONN’s head coach, Mike Cavanaugh.
The two schools departed for New Hampshire for the back end of the home-and-home scheduled for a 7 pm start on Saturday night. The game can be seen on ESPN Plus.
In the extra session, a bad line change by the Huskies allowed New Hampshire a golden chance. Chris Miller got the puck between Huska’s arm and body but Huska’s best friend, Mr. Goal Post turned the shot aside at 3:53. UCONN marched right back with a chance on Karl El-Mir’s shot but that was denied.
The Huskies nearly allowed the Wildcats a two-goal edge and took a one-goal lead on the same shift early in the third period.
A bad turnover by Wyatt Newpower allowed Liam Blackburn to get a clean shorthanded breakaway. Huska made a dazzling left pad save on a backhanded attempt at the 2:00 mark and then on the same powerplay, UCONN connected at the 3:41 mark to take the lead at 2-1.
Adam Karachik got a good pass from El-Mir, who was able to extend his consecutive game point streak to a season-high seven games. Karachik made a short feed to an open Sasha Payusov who took the rolling puck and buried his second of the night and thirteenth goal of the season.
“That’s hockey! It happens all the time. It’s just one play at a time and that was a big goal. Sasha finished it off and our special teams helped us,” Cavanaugh said.
At 7:30, the Wildcats got their break and tied the game at two.
Jackson Pierson came off the left-wing with speed and with a crowd in front, he was able to slip his shot to the far-side past Huska. The left-wing breakdown that allowed that much space to be available will surely be addressed in Durham, NH for tonight’s game.
“We showed good resolve tonight, and we played better in the third period, and I hope that carries over to tomorrow night’s game. It’s one point in Hockey East and everybody is fighting to get that eighth spot. That’s the positive take away (from the game),” UNH’s head coach, Mike Souza, a former UCONN assistant coach, and Bridgeport Sound Tiger during his playing days.
The two best chances came with 1:52 left in the third period from the Wildcats. Anthony Wyse was at the left point and Blackburn was in the slot and sought to put one past Huska, but could not.
The UCONN Huskies were lucky in the second period with the number of giveaways they offered up. A more offensively talented team might have buried the Huskies, but UCONN ended the period tied at one.
UCONN used an early second period powerplay to even the game at one.
Freshmen center, Jachym Kondelik, used his 6’7 frame to get the play started. Max Kalter fell down but was still able to backhand the puck over Sasha Payusov, who in turn, one-timed the puck for his thirteenth goal and his fourth tally in 14 games. The goal came at 49 seconds.
The Huskies caught a break on their first big gaffe as the Wildcats got three-on-one. Angus Crookshank (game-high six shots) ripped one off the post at 4:25. UCONN’s Roman Kinal had a turnover in the UCONN defensive end and Huska was forced to make a save. Then at 12:51, some poor play allowed UNH to get a shot on net at the puck went that went into the net, but the referees ruled it was kicked in to disallow the tally.
“A lot of their chances came because of self-inflicted mistakes off our turnovers,” said Cavanaugh.
The Wildcats were the team initiating play and scored on their first powerplay 34 seconds.
Eric Esposito (West Haven/Loomis Chaffe) fed Max Gildon at the left point. The Plano, Texas-born rearguard then zipped a shot on net with Crookshank thoroughly screening Huska who had zero chance on the shot at 4:20 and a 1-0 lead.
Finally, a UCONN powerplay came their way after their PK unit killed off a second minor penalty. That finally woke up the sleepwalking Huskies.
Evan Wiscocky was at the left point at 10:39. His attempt was put aide then Marc Gatcomb, tied up in front, still managed to get his stick on a Payusov’s pass from behind the net as the Huskies won a behind the net battle and swung a pass to him.
UNH goalie, Mike Robinson, a San Jose Shark draft pick, made the save but looked behind to look for the puck. After a review, it was determined the puck was in his skates and didn’t cross the goal line at 11:32.
NOTES:
Cavanaugh started Payusov as a fourth line winger though it wasn’t for any other purpose that looking to get the matchup he wanted.
UCONN is 2-8 over their last 10 games prior to the game.
Huskies lead the all series now series 6-4-1.
