PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The No. 10/13 Providence College men's hockey team won a thriller on Friday, October 20 at Schneider Arena, taking care of No. 2 Denver with a 4-3 final score. The Friars' penalty kill was crucial, killing 8-of-9 Denver power-plays en route to the victory.
RECORDS
No. 2/2 Denver (2-1-0, 0-0-0 NCHC) | No. 10/13 Providence (3-1-0, 0-0-0 HEA)
SCORE
Denver - 3 | Providence - 4
VENUE
Schneider Arena - Providence, R.I.
GOALIES
Philip Svedebäck (PC) - 21 saves, 3 goals against
Matt Davis (DEN) - 14 saves, 4 goals against
NOTES
- The visiting Pioneers opened the scoring on Friday, as junior defenseman Shai Buium capitalized on Denver's first power play of the evening, finding the back of the net at 6:19 into the first period. Assisting on the play were Aidan Thompson and Zeev Buium.
- Late in the first period, Friar freshman forward Hudson Malinoski responded with a power-play goal of his own, knotting the game at 1-1 with just under two minutes to play. Tanner Adams and Guillaume Richard both registered assists on the man-advantage.
- Denver retook the lead midway through the second frame as a shot from Jack Devine found the back of the net, giving the Pioneers a 2-1 advantage. Forward Massimo Rizzo and defenseman Boston Buckberger tallied assists on the scoring effort.
- With six minutes left in the second period, forward Jaroslav Chmelar found the equalizer for the Friars, giving Providence a 2-2 deadlock with the Pioneers. Aiding on the play were Tanner Adams and Connor Kelley.
- Providence forward Riley Duran gave the Friars their first lead of the night, putting one past Matt Davis at the 8:56 mark in the third period to make it a 3-2 game. Cal Kiefiuk and Andrew Centrella registered assists on the play.
- Just under six minutes later, freshman forward Tanner Adams capitalized on the Friars' power-play, giving Providence a 4-2 lead late in the third period. Taige Harding and Jaroslav Chmelar tallied assists on the goal.
- With just under three and a half minutes to play, Denver's Massimo Rizzo brought the Pioneers within a goal, capitalizing with an extra attacker on the ice. Sean Behrens and Jack Devine contributed to the scoring effort.
- The Friars penalty-kill unit was vital in Friday's victory, stopping 8-of-9 extra attacker opportunities for the Pioneers.
- Freshman Tanner Adams led the Friars with three points (1-2-3) in Providence's victory.
- Rookie Andrew Centrella recorded his first-career NCAA point with an assist on Duran's goal in the third period.
- The win marked the second victory over a top-five opponent for the Friars this season, earlier defeating No. 5 Michigan in the season-opener on Oct. 7.
- Providence scored its first win over a top-two opponent since a 3-2 victory over No. 2 UMass on Feb. 23, 2019.
PC GAME HIGHS
Goals: Malinoski, Chmelar, Duran, Adams (1)
Assists: Adams (2)
Points: Adams (3)
Shots: Duran (4)
POWER PLAYS
Denver - 1/9
Providence - 2/5
SHOTS
Denver - 24
Providence - 18
UP NEXT
The Friars continue to defend home ice tomorrow night as they welcome Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to Schneider Arena for a 7 PM puck drop.
