By: Sam Zis, Howlings
STORRS, CT – Propelled by two goals from Hudson Schandor, the University of Connecticut Huskies defeated the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves in overtime, 4-3, in front of 2,691 at the first-ever students-only hockey game at Tuscano Family Ice Forum Thursday night.
At 2:37 of overtime, Ryan Tverberg found Schandor open and hit him with a tape-to-tape pass. Schandor then beat Seawolves goalie Jared Whale for the game-winner and his second goal of the game.
Despite the need for overtime, the Huskies controlled the contest throughout.
The Seawolves were dominant early, coming out of the gate quickly about building a 7-1 lead in shots in the first five of the game.
After a lot of back-and-forth play, the Huskies broke through first with 8:39 left in the period. Schandor tallied his first of the game off a sparkling pass from Justin Pearson. The puck hit Whale but found a way to squeeze into the net.
The Huskies had a power play opportunity at 15:17, Seawolves forward Connor Marrit took a tripping penalty, but despite some solid scoring chances, the Huskies still went to the locker room up 1-0 and managed to even up the shots at ten.
If there were any nerves on either bench to start the game, they were a distant memory by the time the second period started. The game was much more fluid, and both teams established flow and some consistency in their respective game.
UConn doubled their lead at 9:48 and broke the silence of the second frame off a slick deflection goal by Tristan Frase and assisted by Harrison Rees and Tabor Heaslip
The Seawolves would finally break through and cut the lead in half with just over 4 minutes left to play in the period. Jared White Buried a rebound on the power play. The assist was given to Dylan Findlay.
To start the third period, the Huskies were put on a power play when Seawolves defenseman Carson Kosobud took a cross-checking penalty at 2:00.
The Huskies capitalized as Connecticut native Nick Capone whizzed a one-timer past Whale to make it 3-1 in favor of the home team.
But the Seawolves refused to quietly and again cut the Huskies’ two-goal advantage in half just 35 seconds later when freshman forward Conor Cole found Matt Allen in front of the net for a point-blank shot, and it was 3-2.
Despite the Huskies’ dominant play, the Seawolves found the equalizer at 13:04 when Alex Gomez finished off a rebound surrendered by UConn netminder Logan Terness (28 saves) of a Maximilion Helgeson shot.
The Huskies pressed for the game-winner in regulation; however, they couldn’t beat the skilled Seawolves netminder.
After two unanswered goals to end regulation, it might have seemed to some that the Seawolves were in control with momentum, but the Huskies came out to OT on a mission.
No underestimating the fantastic effort from Whale (36 saves) that gave the Seawolves life in the game.
The University of Connecticut Huskies are set to face off against the University of New Hampshire Wildcats at home Saturday at 3:05 PM. UConn improves to 18-10-3 on the season and 6-2-3 in overtime.
Related
Related posts
Top picks
WOLF PACK SEND BRUINS PACKING WITH OT WIN
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack are headed to the Atlantic Division Finals for the second straight season. A wild bounce saw a puck clip Jake Leschyshyn and beat Brandon Bussi 9:41 into overtime of Game 4 at…
PRE-GAME: WOLF PACK CAN CLOSE OUT BRUINS TONIGHT
PRE-GAME REPORT: WOLF PACK LOOK TO CLOSE OUT SERIES AGAINST BRUINS AT XL CENTER By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack welcome the Providence Bruins to town tonight for Game 4 of their Atlantic Division Semifinals series. Thanks to…
WOLF PACK SUFFER UGLY LOSS TO P-BRUINS IN GAME 2
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack were forced to settle for a split in Providence, as the Bruins roared back to take Game 2 6-0 at the Amica Mutual Pavilion on Friday night. The series, now tied 1-1,…
WOLF PACK TAKE GAME ONE OF SEMIS IN P-TOWN
By: Shay Costa, Howlings PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack’s Anton Blidh scored 1:28 into the third period to give the team a 4-3 road win against his former team, the Providence Bruins, in Game One of the Atlantic Division semifinal in front of…
WOLF PACK SEND BRUINS PACKING WITH OT WIN
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack are headed to the Atlantic Division Finals for the second straight season. A wild bounce saw a puck clip Jake Leschyshyn and beat Brandon Bussi 9:41 into overtime of Game 4 at…
WOLF PACK SUFFER UGLY LOSS TO P-BRUINS IN GAME 2
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack were forced to settle for a split in Providence, as the Bruins roared back to take Game 2 6-0 at the Amica Mutual Pavilion on Friday night. The series, now tied 1-1,…
WOLF PACK TAKE GAME ONE OF SEMIS IN P-TOWN
By: Shay Costa, Howlings PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack’s Anton Blidh scored 1:28 into the third period to give the team a 4-3 road win against his former team, the Providence Bruins, in Game One of the Atlantic Division semifinal in front of…
WOLF PACK GET 3-PT NIGHT FROM PITLICK IN GM 1 WIN
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – Tyler Pitlick picked up three points on Wednesday night as the Hartford Wolf Pack marched into the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence and took Game 1 of their best-of-five Atlantic Division Semifinals series. The Wolf Pack…
ORLANDO ENDS SWAMP RABBITS SEASON
Swamp Rabbits show life late, but Orlando pulls away to win the series BY: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC– Jaydon Dureau’s two-goal night spearheaded a 5-1 Orlando Solar Bears win over the Greenville Swamp Rabbits on Tuesday to win the South Division Semifinals…
SWAMP RABBITS ANSWER BACK IN GAME 2
Eberle nets game-winner; three multi-point performers shine in win BY: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC—Tanner Eberle broke a deadlock in a wild third period to headline the Greenville Swamp Rabbits’ Game 2 win over the Orlando Solar Bears by a 4-2 score on Monday…
SWAMP RABBITS DROP GAME 1 in OT
Spencer Kersten ends a 72-minute game to steal Game 1 from Greenville By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – Spencer Kersten ended a marathon goalie duel to give the Orlando Solar Bears a lead in the South Division Semifinals, 1-0, over the Greenville…
SWAMP RABBITS SCHEDULE FOR SOUTH DIVISION SEMIFINALS
Swamp Rabbits and Solar Bears begin a best-of-seven series this Sunday in Greenville By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, announced the full schedule for the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs…