BOSTON, Mass. - Paul Thompson (Derry, N.H.) and Dalton Speelman (San Jose, Calif.) each registered a goal as the seventh-ranked University of New Hampshire men's hockey team played to a 2-2 tie with Northeastern University in the Wildcats' Hockey East opener Friday night at Matthews Arena.
UNH moves to 1-1-2 with a 0-0-1 mark in Hockey East. Northeastern is now 0-2-2, 0-2-1 HE.
After 60 minutes could not break a 2-2 deadlock, New Hampshire held a 4-2 shot edge in the final five-minute scoreless overtime.
The Huskies got the scoring going in the first period as Mike McLaughlin scored a short-handed goal at 3:19 of the first period. The goal was assisted by Steve Quailer and Luke Eibler. New Hampshire responded with a power play goal of its own at 6:41 of the first. Thompson scored his third power play goal of the season with assists from Blake Kessel (Verona, Wis.) and Brett Kostolansky (Denver, Colo.). The Huskies held a 16-11 shot advantage.
In a scoreless second period, the Wildcats had the better of chances with definitive 20-9 shot advantage.
UNH took a 2-1 lead as Dalton Speelman (San Jose, Calif.) tipped in an Austin Block (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) shot at 1:57 of the third. John Henrion (Holden, Mass.) also assisted on the tally. Speelman has four of his five career goals against the Northeastern and is averaging a goal a game lifetime against NU. The Huskies responded with an even-strength goal just 18 seconds later as McLaughlin scored his second of the night with helpers from Brodie Reid and Drew Daniels at 2:15. Both teams had opportunities in the third period including 50 seconds of 5-3 for the Huskies, but neither team could break the deadlock in regulation. NU held a slim 11-10 shot advantage in the frame.
UNH's Matt DiGirolamo (Ambler, Pa.) stopped 37 shots including 15 in the opening frame and moves to 1-1-2, while NU's Chris Rawlings turned away 43 shots including 20 in the middle frame.
UNH returns to action on Friday, Oct. 29 at Cornell University. The game will serve as the season opener for the Big Red. The Wildcats' return home Nov. 12-13 for a two-game home series with Massachusetts. Start time both nights is 7 p.m. Tickets for both game as available online at UNHWildcats.com.