Final: New Hampshire 4, Huskies 3

The Huskies were beaten 4-3 in heartbreaking fashion as UNH scored in the final minute to complete a comeback after NU had jumped out to an early lead. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but there are plenty of positives to take out of this one. Game story coming soon.

The Facts

• Braden Pimm, Joe Manno, and Ben Oskroba had goals for Northeastern.
• Cody Ferriero, Dustin Darou, Robbie Vrolyk, Garrett Vermeersch, Mike McMurtry and Adam Reid had the assists.
• Chris Rawlings allowed 3 goals on 14 shots and was pulled 7 minutes into the second period.
• Bryan Mountain came on in relief and made 18 saves, allowing just 1 goal.
• Shots were 33-21 UNH.
• The Huskies were 0-1 on the power play. UNH was 2-4.

Lineup

Ferriero-Pimm-Saponari

Roy-Darcy-Karlsson

Vrolyk-Vermeersch-Manno

Reid-McMurtry-Belonger

Ellement-Darou

Manson-Oskroba

Saucerman-Lauwers

Rawlings/Mountain

Quick Notes

• For the second year in a row, the Huskies scored a goal in the first minute at the Whittemore Center, but soft goals kept them from getting the win.
• Bryan Mountain came in to relieve Rawlings.  He played very well. The goalie change stopped the UNH momentum and Mountain kept the Huskies in it with some tremendous saves. I was extremely impressed with this play.
• First collegiate goal for Big Ben Oskroba.  What a great moment for him. He looked good and may have earned himself a few more games in the lineup. If you heard loud screams within 15 miles of Boston around the time of his goal, it was most likely Preston.
• First collegiate point for Mike McMurtry in his first collegiate game. In limited action, he looked awesome.  On the assist, he pushed a UNH player off the puck behind the net, took it around and calmly found Oskroba, who was sneaking in from the point, with a great pass.  He was very physical and he fit in perfectly on the 4th line.
• Dustin Darou picked up his first career point as well.  His confidence seems to be growing every game.  He stepped up and picked off a pass in the middle of the neutral zone that gave NU an odd-man rush
• Speaking of confidence, Ludwig Karlsson seems to have lost all of he is. He made a couple nice plays, but it looks like he is really pressing out there.  Pucks were just falling off his stick and he really couldn’t get going. He is clearly working very hard to get back to where he was last year, but he might just be overdoing it.  He just needs to relax and get back to being a shooter.  Playing on a line with Kevin Roy should help this.
• Garrett Vermeersch was dropped to the third line in the shakeup, but did not miss a beat. He has looked great all year and the fact that NU is so deep at forward that they can have a guy of his talent on the 3rd line is a huge advantage.

HHN’s Three Stars

1. Bryan Mountain

2. Braden Pimm

3. Garrett Vermeersch

Up Next:  Round 2 with the Wildcats at what should be a near capacity crowd at Matthews.  7 pm.