BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings
HARTFORD, CT – In about as dramatic fashion as you could imagine, the UCONN Huskies (15-13-4 overall, 12-8-2 HEA) pulled off a stunning, two-goal, late-in-the-game comeback getting the game-winner with 8.9 seconds left to upend the UMASS-Minutemen, 3-2.
The Huskies knocked off the #8 ranked team in the country and officially clinched a playoff spot. The win put them in second-place a point ahead of UMASS-Amherst.
For the second week in a row, while at home and looking like a defeat was in front of them, the Huskies pulled it from the cliff and turned the XL Center into Mardi Gras and New Year’s Eve all rolled into one.
With the Huskies buzzing, the rowdy XL Center crowd of 6,666 urged them on with defenseman Wyatt Newpower zipping a pass across to Carter Berger at the left point. Berger launched a shot that went off of several bodies in front likely UMASS defenseman, Colin Felix, who was battling the Huskies Jachym Kondelik in front of the net.
UMASS goalie Filip Lundberg was down in his butterfly position not anticipating the shot. Kale Howarth, a big body in front, got a swat at the puck on the backhand and put it in the net for his fourth goal of the season with 8.9 seconds which originally said 7.8 was on the clock.
The XL Center exploded in a furious celebration at the turn of events.
“We got a great group. We thrive under pressure. We’re showing people we’re not a mediocre Hockey East team. We know it,” said Howarth. “Everybody knows over the last three weekends UCONN hockey is for real. The moment was a blur. I blacked out for a few seconds, I was so fired up. The energy was great (the crowd). Everybody brought that energy. That’s what’s been helping us play a full 60.”
Improbable as a word doesn’t aptly describe it.
“Everybody was relaxed, taking (a few) deep breaths. Let’s make our next shift the best shift it can be. Our bench was calm. There wasn’t any panic. Let’s stick to the game plan. It paid off,” said Mike Cavanaugh, UCONN’s head coach of those wild few moments leading up to the momentous conclusion.
At this point, the team has no fear and there’s no wavering under pressure. They EXPECT to win. Doubt doesn’t exist
“There is no quit and we play to the buzzer. We had no doubts we’re going to win,” said Freeman.
The game-tying goal was equally heart-stopping and a thing of beauty.
Berger, at center ice and falling down, reached and pushed the puck forward. Marc Gatcomb got the puck from Howarth who lifted the stick of Minutemen defenseman Nik Hildenbrand to maintain possession along the lower right-wing boards. He sent it back to Gatcomb in the faceoff circle and he weaved his magic to the net and tied the game with a perfect far-post backhander that nestled just inside the post at 19:04 for his ninth of the season.
For UMASS (19-11-2 overall, 12-8-2 HEA) head coach Greg Carvel the game boiled down to a simple strategy.
“Our five guys tried to prevent their five from getting to the net and we failed to execute that over the last two minutes (1:31 of play) and credit UCONN, they earned and deserved it.”
The ending seemed to be heading the other way as UMASS scored a powerplay goal midway through the third period to take a 2-1 lead.
Replay showed that a questionable call was made on Berger as UMASS’s Reed Lebster lost his edge on his forechecking attempt.
UMASS’ powerhouse, John Leonard, the nation’s leading scorer, picked off a clearing attempt and used his body to shield the puck and tap dance along the blue line. He accelerated away from Kondelik, who was checking on him. He then went against then grain on the right side, saw he had a screen and fired on net. The puck went in for his second of the night to the stick-side of Tomas Vomacka at 9:03. It was his 26th goal of the season
In the second period, the Huskies grabbed the lead.
Berger, who has gone 15 games without a goal. He last scored on December 7th against Vermont and has gone exactly two months without a point (since December 28th against St. Lawrence),
Kondelik picked up a puck in center ice and circled back into the UCONN zone. He snapped a pass to Berger at center ice. Berger had an open lane to skate into and jumped up the left-wing side as he waited for Minuteman defenseman Matt Kessel to commit going down to the ice. Gatcomb arrived to provide a last-second decoy and Berger fired what became his second goal of the season into the top shelf at 8:32.
“(It’s) been a while since I chipped in offensively in that sense. (It’s) nice to get that one and get the win,” said Berger.
UCONN’s Brian Rigali was going off for a shift change, but wheeled and fired a chance on net. Lindberg was surprised by the shot but made the save.
Alexander Payusov was bearing down on him at the blue line, but John Leonard fired a seemingly harmless shot, but Bobby Trivigno arrived at the net with the Huskies Wyatt Newpower to form a screen and the puck sailed over Vomacka’s glove and at 13:56
It seemed to have been deflected, but Leonard was credited with his 25th of the season.
Then Berger made a play that made all the late-game pyrotechnics possible.
First, Berger coughed up the biscuit to Trivigno about 35 feet from the net. He fired a quick shot and it was seemed to have been stopped by Vomacka, and Trivigno started to skate away from the play. The puck however was still loose and was skittering from his pads and heading toward the goal.
Berger lept back diving ahead of UMASS’S Eric Faith and tucked it back under Vomacka, who still had Kolby Vegara trying whack at it until Newpower neutralized him and Vomacka retained control of the puck.
The Huskies were outshot 7-4 and went on a 8-1 run over the final nine minutes.
NOTES:
Cavanaugh praised the crowds first in his opening comments, “They said there were 6.700 people here. It felt like more. The building was as loud as its been since I’ve been here, when we tied it.”
Then two teams meet tomorrow night at the Mullins Center at 8 PM (NESN PLUS)
UCONN closes out the regular a season next week against UMASS-Lowell at the Tsongas Arena,
Nice request from UCONN Payusov to have the Canadian national anthem played before the game.
Former Husky, Spencer Nass, was traded from the Idaho Steelheads (ECHL) to the Kalamazoo K-Wings.
Somewhere in Florida after his latest team this year the Newfoundland (St. John’s) Growlers after their game with the Florida Everblades, former Husky captain Miles Gendron could raise a glass to his former teammates for fulfilling on something he said a year ago at the final regular season home game also against UMASS a 4-3 win.
“I’m so very proud of these guys. We wanted to be the first group to win a playoff game. We fell short of being the first group to win a playoff game, but tonight was our playoff game and we won it. I have faith in this group they are gonna do it next year.”
The Huskies are knocking on the doorstep of doing just that.
