Huskies Fall Short at Home, Now 4 Months Since Last Home Conference Win

It was a scene that has played out many times for Northeastern this season.   With about 7 seconds left in the game, the Huskies got the set up they were looking for on the power play: Kevin Roy open in the circle for a one timer. Roy got the shot off but on this night, there would be no ice scoop for Roy and no Hockey East points for the Huskies, thanks to a big save from Vermont’s Brody Hoffman.

Hoffman had kept Northeastern at bay for most of the game, including making a couple crucial saves in a goalmouth scramble with 14 seconds left, sealing a 2-1 win for the visiting Vermont Catamounts in a huge Hockey East game for both teams.

But the Huskies could have no complaints.  They didn’t play like a team fighting for a playoff spot. They didn’t play like a team fighting for anything really.

Adam Reid’s power play goal in the first period would give the Huskies an early lead. Reid banged home his own rebound after Hoffman stopped his first attempt. But the goal could not hide the fact that the Huskies failed to match the Catamounts’ intensity.

4 minutes later, Vermont would answer on their own power play when Jake Fallon beat Chris Rawlings’ five hole. It was a weak goal for Rawlings to let up and Jim Madigan said as much in his post game comments.

Ben Albertson’s first career goal would give Vermont a 2-1 lead in the second period.

The Huskies picked up their play in the third, but it wasn’t enough to beat Hoffman, who made 9 saves in the final period and 26 on the night.  Rawlings finished with 32 saves.

The Huskies haven’t won at home since they played a glorified club team. Their last Hockey East win at home was in October.  They will once again try to break that streak tonight against this same Vermont team.