STORRS, Conn. - Six different players found the back of the net as No. 17 Providence College advanced to the Hockey East Semifinals with a 6-1 victory on the road at UConn on Sunday (March 14). The Friars will travel to UMass on Wednesday for the semifinal round. Game time and TV coverage will be determined at a later time.
SCORE
Providence - 6 | UConn - 1
RECORDS
No. 17 Providence - 11-8-5 (10-8-5 HEAM) | UConn - 10-11-2 (10-10-2 HEAM)
VENUE
Freitas Ice Forum - Storrs, Conn.
GOALIES
Jaxson Stauber (PC) - 40 saves
Tomas Vomacka (UConn) - 37 saves
NOTES
- The Friars broke the ice at 8:47 of the first period as Parker Ford re-directed Uula Ruikka's point shot over the blocker of Vomacka for the 1-0 lead. Greg Printz also earned an assist on the play.
- Providence aimed to extend their lead late in the period as UConn's Kale Howarth was whistled for roughing, but couldn't convert despite a few quality looks.
- The Friars held a 19-9 advantage in shots through 20 minutes of play.
- Uula Ruikka and Nick Poisson struck for goals 60 seconds apart early in the second period to give the Friars a 3-1 lead.
- Ruikka one-timed a shot past Vomacka after a faceoff win. Cam McDonald and John McDermott earned the assists on the play.
- Poisson extended the lead to 3-0 after he finished off Ben Mirageas' shot from the point. Tyce Thompson earned the secondary assist on Poisson's fifth tally of the season.
- Jachym Kondelik got the Huskies on the board at 3-1, stuffing a shot past Stauber on the short side at 9:20 of the second period.
- Tyce Thompson extended the Providence lead at 1:45 of the third period with his 11th goal of the season.
- The Friar penalty kill came up big in the third period, killing off all three power play opportunities for the Huskies.
- Brett Berard and Max Crozier added goals down the stretch to extend the lead to 6-1.
- Five players finished the night with two-point performances (Berard, Mirageas, Poisson, Ruikka and Thompson). Twelve players registered at least one point in the game.
- Providence appears in its first semifinals since 2018, where they advanced to the Hockey East Championship Game after a 3-2 overtime win over Northeastern. The Friars are 5-11 all-time in the semifinal round. Wednesday's game at UMass will mark the second time the teams will face-off in the Hockey East Tournament as the Friars swept the Minutemen in a best-of-three Opening Round series back in 2017.
PC GAME HIGHS
Goals: Ford, Ruikka, Poisson, Thompson, Berard, Crozier (1)
Assists: Mirageas (2)
Points: Berard, Mirageas, Poisson, Ruikka, Thompson (2)
Shots: Thompson (6)
POWER PLAYS
Providence - 0/4
UConn - 0/5
SHOTS
Providence - 43
UConn - 41
