PROVIDENCE, R.I- The UConn men's hockey team skated to a tie vs. no. 7 Providence in game one of a home and home series. Ryan Tattle scored two goals in the third period, while Graham Gamache scored two in the game for Providence. Freshman Ethan Whitcomb scored in the shootout in round nine to give UConn the extra point in the Hockey East standings.
Providence jumped out to an early 1-0 lead as the friar defenseman was able to chip the puck over Viking Gustaffson Nyberg, leaving Logan Sawyer alone for the breakaway where he was able to beat Tyler Muszelik for the first goal of the game. The Huskies had a chance late to tie the game as Kaden Shahan was left alone on a breakaway and was awarded a penalty shot as the Friar defenseman pulled him down. On the penalty shot, Philip Svedback denied Shahan to keep Providence in the lead. The Huskies were unable to find the equalizer in the first period and entered the break trailing by one.
The Huskies were forced to play a man down early in the second period as Tabor Heaslip was called for a cross check, but the Huskies penalty kill continued their recent success keeping Providence from finding the back of the net. The Huskies best chance of the game came midway through the second period as Jake Richard stole the puck at the blue line and was left alone for the breakaway, but the sophomore forward just missed the net. UConn looked to take the lead late in the period on two breakaways, but the shot by Kaden Shahan rang off the post, while Jake Richard's shot was saved by Philip Svedback. On the counter Providence was able to regain the lead with three minutes remaining in the period as Graham Gamache went top shelf to beat Tyler Muszelik and give the Friars the lead heading into the third period.
45 seconds into the start of the third period, the Huskies jumped on the power play following a cross check, but the penalty kill by the Friars kept the Huskies from finding the equalizer. The Huskies eventually found the equalizing goal as Nick Carabin fired a puck from the point which was then deflected into the net by junior Ryan Tattle. The Huskies were tested with 10 minutes remaining in the game as a penalty on joey Muldowney put them on the penalty kill. On the penalty kill, the Huskies scored a nation leading eighth shorthanded goal as Ryan Tattle was able to chip the puck over Svedback to give UConn the lead. Shortly after, Providence responded and was able to tie the game at three as Graham Gamache snuck a puck by Muszelik with nine minutes remaining in the period. Neither team was able to find the game winner resulting in a five-minute overtime period.
In overtime, a Providence penalty gave UConn a four on three power play with three minutes remaining, but the Huskies were unable to capitalize with the man advantage. Following the power play both teams had opportunities to win the game, but goaltenders and defense prevailed. The game officially ended in a tie, but UConn came away with the extra point in Hockey East Standings as freshman Ethan Whitcomb scored the shootout winner in round nine.
Up Next:
UConn hosts the Friars at the XL Center in Hartford tomorrow afternoon at 3:30 pm.
