BOSTON – Two of the best defensive teams in Hockey East combined for a nine-goal affair, including seven goals in the third period, Friday night at Matthews Arena. The 16th-ranked Huskies scored three third period goals in 4:29 and held on late to defeat Vermont 5-4 on NESN.
 
RELATED LINKS
Box Score
Highlights
 
COACH'S QUOTE
"Excellent first period - one of the best we have played in a year," said Head Coach Todd Woodcroft. "We were in control because we outworked a talented team in Northeastern.
Second period - we got outworked. We were second to pucks and generally easy to play against. We addressed it between periods and came back in the third ready to go, scoring an early goal. However, we once again thought it was going to be easy and we got away from our identity of being hard to play against for three goals. I liked our resilience and our ability to stay in the fight. We showed late push back. But this is not an outcome we are happy with."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Catamounts came out strong in the first period, they had 14 shots in the first 14 minutes of the contest, including two apiece from Andrew Lucas, Jacques Bouquot and William Lemay.
• The Huskies opened the scoring with 1:19 left in the opening period. Northeastern forced a turnover down low and Justin Hryckowian found the Huskies leading scorer Aidan McDonough for a one-timer in front that beat UVM's Gabe Carriere.
• Just 25 seconds later Simon Jellus responded for the Catamounts with his fifth goal of the season. Robbie Stucker fired a wrist shot towards the Northeastern net that Jellus expertly tipped home from the slot.
• After a scoreless second frame UVM took its first lead of the contest 2:08 into the third period. Bouquot cycled a puck to Philip Lagunov on the half boards and as Lagunov fired a wrist shot towards the net Bouquot skated in front of Northeastern's TJ Semptimphelter taking away his eyes. Lagunov's perfectly placed low shot found the back of the net for his team-leading seventh goal of the season.
• The Huskies responded quickly scoring three times in 4:29 of game action to take a 4-2 lead. Jordan Harris, Riley Huges and Jakov Novak found the back of the net for Northeastern.
• With 6:12 to go the Catamounts cut the Northeastern lead to one. Lucas fed a pass to Isak Walther in the slot and Walther's one-time shot was stopped by a diving Semptimphelter. But Bouquot was there to gather the rebound and stash it home for his fourth of the campaign.
• With 1:53 to go NU's Sam Colangelo picked the pocket of a Vermont defender and found the back of the net with a backhander just under Carriere's arm that seemed to put the game out of reach.
• With an extra attacker, the Catamounts showed the resiliency we've seen all season. With 24 seconds left a Cory Babichuk point shot redirected to Robbie Stucker alone on the side of the net. He wasted no time burying his fourth of the season into the half empty net.
• With just 24 seconds left the Catamounts were able to create some pressure but were unable to complete the comeback. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Jacques Bouquot and Robbie Stucker earned their second multi-point games of the season with a goal and an assist. Both had two points October 8 against Colgate and again tonight.
• Philip Lagunov won 13 faceoffs tonight for the Catamounts, he has been in double-digits in wins in 16 games this season.
• This year with each goal scored by UVM, Community Bank, N.A.  will donate $75 to Special Olympics Vermont. With tonight's four goals, Community Bank, N.A. will be adding a donation of $300 to Special Olympics Vermont. Thank you Community Bank, N.A. for your support of our UVM and Special Olympics athletes!

UP NEXT
The Catamounts are back in action tomorrow night to face No. 17 Providence. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the action will once again air on NESN. The voice of the Catamounts, Adam LaFleur, will broadcast the action live on WVMT (FM 96.3 / AM 620).
 
Handy Toyota is the presenting sponsor of the 2021-22 men's hockey season