STORRS, Conn. - The UConn men's hockey team took down no.7 Providence Friday evening to secure a spot in the Hockey East semi-finals at the TD Garden in Boston. Sophomore Joey Muldowney scored two goals while. Junior Tyler Muszelik made 32 saves to propel the Huskies to victory.
The first period was a physical battle between the two teams. The Huskies had the first advantage of the game following a Providence penalty, but the Friars were the team to capitalize as they scored a shorthanded goal to take the 1-0 lead. The Huskies looked for the equalizer but were unable to find the back of the net as Friars netminder Philip Svedback made six saves to preserve the 1-0 lead heading into the second period.
The Huskies continued to battle in the second period, looking for the equalizer, but Svedback stood strong in net, preventing the Huskies from finding the back of the net early in the period. UConn's best chance of the period came early as an Ethan Whitcomb shot deflected to Kaden Shahan, but the freshman's rebound went just high of the net. Late in the period, UConn was awarded a man advantage following a Providence penalty, but the Huskies were unable to convert with the man advantage. With three minutes remaining in the period, UConn found the equalizer as captain Hudson Schandor after missing some ice time found the back of the net to tie the game heading into the third period.
The Huskies momentum from the second period carried over into the third period as Joey Muldowney took a feed from Jake Richard and found the back of the net to give UConn the lead early in the third period. With the lead the Huskies pressure ramped up. The UConn defense locked down the Friars and refused to give up the tying goal. The Huskies forwards pressured the Providence defense, refusing to let the puck clear the zone, and after finally clearing the puck, Providence pulled their goalie in favor of an extra attacker. With the netminder pulled, UConn sophomore Joey Muldowney scored on the empty net for his second of the night and UConn's third of the evening securing the Huskies win. Junior Tyler Muszelik made 32 saves in the win to help push the Huskies to victory.
With the win, UConn will head to the TD Garden in Boston for the semi-final matchup. The Huskies will find out their opponent following tomorrow's quarterfinal games.
