STORRS, Conn. - The UConn men's hockey team completed the weekend sweep over no. 17 New Hampshire Saturday afternoon by a final of 3-2. Huskies received goals from Hudson Schandor, Joey Muldowney and Tabor Heaslip while freshman Callum Tung made 26 saves in the victory.
The first period was a back-and-forth battle between both teams, trading blows early looking for the first goal of the afternoon. New Hampshire had the first opportunity of the day when a UConn penalty gave the Wildcats the man advantage. The UConn penalty kill went to work but not for long as a New Hampshire penalty created four on four hockey. After both penalties expired another New Hampshire penalty gave UConn the man advantage. While on the power play, constant pressure paid off as Hudson Schandor forced the turnover and found Jake Richard who gave it back to Schandor who fired it past the New Hampshire netminder for the first goal of the game. Freshman Callum Tung was strong in net, making seven saves and holding New Hampshire scoreless.
The Huskies came out firing in the second period as they found the back of the net early to jump out to a 2-0 lead. UConn's top line of Joey Muldowney, Hudson Schandor and Jake Richard struck again this time as Joey Muldowney found the back of the net. With the goal, that's Muldowney's fourth goal in four games, and his fifth consecutive game with a point. Late in the period, a UConn penalty gave New Hampshire the man advantage, but the UConn penalty kill shined, and after intercepting the puck, junior Tabor Heaslip scored the teams nation leading seventh shorthanded goal to give UConn the 3-0 lead. Late in the period, the Wildcats found the back of the net to cut into the UConn lead and make it a two-goal game heading into the final frame. As time was winding down in the period, a cross-checking penalty by New Hampshire was reviewed and upgraded to a five-minute major and game misconduct, giving UConn the power play heading into the third period.
New Hampshire jumped the Huskies in the third period, preventing UConn from generating any offense on the power play, and then on a power play of their own, they were able to find the back of the net to cut the UConn lead to one. The Huskies were once again at a disadvantage following the goal as Joey Muldowney went to the penalty box for elbowing, but the UConn penalty kill held their ground preventing the tying goal. A UConn penalty with 1:03 left in the game put UConn on the penalty kill. New Hampshire pulled their goalie in favor of two men advantage. The UConn penalty kill shined in the final minute, preventing New Hampshire from scoring, securing the 3-2 victory and weekend sweep.
UP NEXT:
The Huskies will turn their attention to a two-game road trip to Orono Maine beginning Friday. Both games can be streamed live on ESPN+.
