BURLINGTON, Vt. - Massimo Lombardi scored the game-winner midway through the second period and Gabe Carriere made 31 saves as Vermont knocked off #17 New Hampshire 2-1 Friday night during the Catamounts annual Rally Against Cancer Game presented by Mascoma Bank. With the win, the Catamounts improved to 11-11-1 while the Wildcats fell to 12-8-1 overall.
The teams game-worn jerseys from tonight are available at https://www.32auctions.com/uvmmihcancer. The auction will end on Friday, February 2 at 7 p.m. and proceeds will benefit the UVM Cancer Center.
COACH'S QUOTE
"Really proud of us to grind out that win," Head Coach Steve Wiedler said. "Gabe was exceptional in the net. That is a very good UNH team. We have to rest and recover to get ready for another big test tomorrow."
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Catamounts opened the scoring 6:11 into the contest. Luca Münzenberger carried the puck out of the Vermont zone creating a four-on-two rush in transition. Münzenberger passed over to Thomas Sinclair on the wing as they entered the UNH zone. Sinclair dropped the puck back to Jens Richards who was trailing on the play. Richards labeled a shot under Jakob Hellsten's blocker for his sixth goal of the season.
- The Wildcats answered back 3:11 later off an offensive zone faceoff. Harrison Blaisdell won the faceoff for the Wildcats and Conor Lovett was able to push the puck towards the UVM net. It took a couple of bounces in traffic and then was directed barely over the line by Robert Cronin for his first goal of the season.
- Vermont retook the lead with 7:09 to play in the middle frame. Thomas Sinclair leveled a UNH forward to create the offense. Chris Theodore gathered the puck in the neutral zone after the hit and pushed in transition with Lombardi. Theodore drew the defense to him before feathering a feed to Lombardi. Massimo fired a wrist shot from the top of the slot past Hellsten for his fourth goal of the year.
- Carriere made nine saves in the third period to preserve the UVM lead and seal his 11th win of the season.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- The Catamounts are 3-4-1 this season against ranked opponents, all eight games have come in Hockey East play. Vermont has earned 10 points in those matchups.
- 11 wins by Gabe Carriere is a new career-high, and the most by a Catamounts goaltender since Stefanos Lekkas '20 had 12 during the 2018-19 campaign.
- Massimo Lombardi is now second on the team with two game-winning goals this season. Lombardi is the only Catamount with two game-winning goals in league play.
- With tonight's 2-1 decision, Community Bank N.A. will donate $150 to Special Olympics Vermont. Community Bank, N.A. donates $75 per goal to Special Olympics Vermont for every goal the men's and women's team scores this season.
- With the win, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group will donate $100 to Vermont Children's Trust Foundation as part of the Cats Win, Community Wins initiative. Since its inauguration in 2017, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group has donated over $94,000 to local non-profits through the Cats Win, Community Wins initiative.
UP NEXT
The teams will face off again tomorrow night at 7 p.m. from Gutterson Fieldhouse for Fan Appreciation night presented by Little Caesars. The action will be broadcast live on ESPN+ with Rob Ryan on the call.
