DURHAM, N.H. - Freshman Charli Kettyle (Perth, Ontario) scored with 36.4 seconds remaining and redshirt junior Ava Boutilier (Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island) stopped all 21 shots to lift the University of New Hampshire women's hockey team to Friday night's 1-0 victory against 10th-ranked Providence College at the Whittemore Center.
Kettyle broke the scoreless tie with a highlight-reel goal as she gloved down a puck in the right circle, fought through a defender and rip a shot past the upper-left shoulder of Providence goalie Sandra Abstreiter into the upper-right corner of the net.
Boutilier recorded her third consecutive shutout to extend her shutout streak to 182:04. She has four shutouts this season and 11 career.
Abstreiter was credited with 25 saves.
UNH extended its winning streak to three games to improve to 6-10-1 both overall and in Hockey East. PC is now 9-5-1 overall and in the league.
New Hampshire and Providence face off again Feb. 6 at Schneider Arena. Game time on NESN is 7 p.m.
FIRST PERIOD
- UNH recorded an edge in offensive zone time with an 8-4 shot advantage in a scoreless first period in which neither team was whistled for a penalty.
- UNH generated an early 3-on-1 but Nicole Kelly (Brantford, Ontario) shot wide.
- In the ninth minute, Abstreiter denied Kelly twice and then turned aside Kettyle off the second rebound.
SECOND PERIOD
- PC recorded a 9-8 shot advantage in the middle frame; both teams went 0-for-1 on the power play.
- The Wildcats possessed the puck below the goal line and drew a penalty at 5:22 to go on the first power play of the game.
- It was short-lived, however, as a UNH tripping penalty created a 4v4 at 5:41.
- With 5:30 remaining in the second period, Tamara Thiérus (Saint-Jérôme, Quebec) was denied at the right doorstep and Jada Christian (Caledon East, Ontario) wristed a shot off Abstreiter's leg pads. The rebounds trickled to the open left side, but a PC skater cleared the puck away.
THIRD PERIOD
- Boutilier kept the door closed while Providence continued to pressure early in the third.
- Providence's KC Brooks' snapshot from the top of the slot is gloved by Boutilier at 7:01.
- Grace Middleton (Midland, Mich.) generated a dangerous scoring chance at 10:31 but was turned aside by Abstreiter.
- Moments later, Thiérus skated to the front of the net and flipped a backhander on net. Middleton, positioned at the top of the crease, slapped the rebound toward the net but was once again denied by Abstreiter.
- UNH's shot from the point is redirected by Christian for a good chance on goal, but is stopped by Abstreiter to keep the game scoreless at 13:42.
- An interference penalty was called on UNH at 15:58, putting Providence on the power play. One minute later, a great glove save by Boutilier denied Brooke Becker's bid from the left circle.
- Kettyle corralled a loose puck off the stick of Brianna Legros (New Liskeard, Ontario) to score the games' first and only goal with 36.4 seconds remaining.
- PC called its timeout and pulled Abstreiter for an extra skater before the ensuing faceoff.
- New Hampshire did not allow a shot attempt the rest of the way to preserve the win.
UNH NOTEBOOK
- UNH has not allowed a goal in 185 minutes, 7 seconds.
- The previous time the Wildcats recorded three consecutive shutouts was in the 2010-11 season: Oct. 29 & 30 vs. Niagara University and Nov. 6 vs. Vermont.
- UNH has a 2-2-1 record against nationally-ranked teams.
- Kettyle ranks second among UNH rookies with seven points (three goals, four assists).
- Kettyle leads the Wildcats with two game-winning goals; she also netted the game-winner Jan. 22 at Merrimack College.
- Legros tallied an assist for the second consecutive game. She has four points, all on assists, this season; three of her four points have been vs. nationally-ranked teams.
- Boutilier increased her career saves total to 2,199, which ranks second in program history. Jen Huggon holds the benchmark of 2,851.
- Boutilier is No. 4 in career minutes at 4806:04; third on the list is Alicia Roberts at 6526:33.
- Boutilier was named to the inaugural Watch List for the first-even Women's Hockey Goalie of the Year Award earlier on Friday.
- PC entered the game with the No. 2-ranked power play in the nation but went 0-for-2 Friday night.
- UNH's penalty kill has been perfect each of the past five games in 18 shorthanded situations and has successfully killed off 20 consecutive opponent power plays dating back to Jan. 9.
SERIES NOTEBOOK
- UNH has an 85-60-15 edge in the all-time series vs. Providence.
- The Wildcats have won three straight, the last two by shutout.
