STORRS, Conn. - On senior night and in front of a sold-out crowd, the UConn men's hockey team won the opening game of a home and home series with Northeastern University by a final of 5-2. Hudson Schandor scored one goal and added two assists to help the Huskies secure their first win over Northeastern in the Toscano Family Ice Forum.
The first period was a physical battle from first puck drop. Northeastern had the first opportunity of the evening as a UConn penalty gave them the man advantage, but the Huskies penalty kill was able to fend off the Northeastern attack. Following the penalty kill, the UConn offense went to work and was rewarded as John Spetz crashed the net and following a save sophomore Joey Muldowney was there for the rebound goal. With the goal, Joey Muldowney set the program record for most goals by a skater in a season in the Hockey East era, breaking Tage Thompsons record of 19. Following the goal, UConn's defense shined not allowing a goal and entering the period break leading by one.
The Huskies were able to jump on the attack early in the second period, following a penalty on Northeastern. With the man advantage, the UConn power play unit went to work and was rewarded when Jake Richard took a pass from Hudson Schandor and Ryan Tattle and fired a shot from the point past Cameron Whitehead of Northeastern for UConn's second goal of the game. With the assist, Hudson Schandor broke the program record for most assists in a single season for UConn in the hockey east era. Northeastern didn't stay quiet for long as they were able to respond following UConn's second goal cutting the lead to one. The one goal lead didn't last long as Captain Hudson Schandor was all alone following a turnover and fired it past Whitehead to give UConn the 3-1 lead, and the two-goal lead heading into the break.
The third period was back and forth battle once again, but the Huskies were able to weather the Northeastern attack. Northeastern cut into the UConn lead early in the third period, however the Huskies responded with a goal of their own as Jake Percival found Ryan Tattle for the one-time goal. With time running down in the period, Northeastern pulled their goalie in favor of an extra skater and with the goalie pulled junior Ryan Tattle was able to score the empty net goal to secure the 5-2 win. Freshman Callum Tung made 29 saves in the victory.
With the win, UConn finishes the regular season with a 10-4-1 record at home. The Huskies will travel to Boston for a matchup against Northeastern Saturday March 1 to wrap up the home and home.
