FINAL SCORE: UConn 5, Vermont 1
STORRS, Conn. – Joey Muldowney and Matthew Wood each had two goals Thursday night as UConn defeated Vermont 5-1 to clinch the eight-seed in the upcoming Hockey East Tournament. The Huskies will host Vermont in the Opening Round next Wednesday. With the win, UConn improves to 14-18-2 while the Catamounts fell to 13-17-3.
 
RELATED LINKS
Box Score
 
COACH'S QUOTE
"We really struggled to find our game tonight," said Head Coach Steve Wiedler. "Not sure exactly where the malfunction was, but it seemed like we were gripping our sticks a little too tight. It's tough to decipher immediately after the game. We will do our homework and try to better understand all the things that led up to not being ready. That's on me."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Huskies opened the scoring just 1:32 into the first period. Samu Salminen centered the puck towards the UVM net from a sharp angle. Gabe Carriere made the initial save but the puck was tipped home from right in front by UConn's Wood for his team-leading 12th goal of the year.
• With 8:47 to play in the first period the Huskies doubled their advantage. In transition UConn rang a shot off the post, they kept the puck in the Vermont zone and capitalized seconds later. Cutting to the middle at the top of the slot Muldowney scored his third goal of the season through a screen in front.
• 7:55 into the second period Wood found the back of the net again to make it 3-0. On a two-on-two rush a Vermont defender deflected a cross-ice pass but the puck sat out in front of Carriere and Wood pounced on the puck and put it home.
• Off the ensuing faceoff Vermont got on the board. UVM broke in transition on its own two-on-two opportunity. Joel Maatta looked pass to a cutting Jens Richards but fired a shot on net instead. UConn's Arsenii Sergeev made the initial stop but trailing on the play Isak Walther stashed a backhand home to make it 3-1 8:08 into the middle frame.
• UConn reestablished its three-goal lead 6:21 into the final frame. Tristan Fraser one-timed home his seventh goal of the season to dampen any early momentum from Vermont in the third.
• Muldowney picked up his first career multi-goal game with an empty-netter with 2:01 to play in regulation.   

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Gabe Carriere made 20 saves between the pipes for Vermont. He has started every game for UVM this season making 874 saves.
• Tonight, was the Catamounts first-ever game at the Toscano Forum which opened in the winter of 2023.
• With tonight's 5-1 decision, Community Bank N.A. will donate $75 to Special Olympics Vermont. Community Bank, N.A. donates $75 per goal to Special Olympics Vermont for every goal the men's and women's team scores this season.

UP NEXT
The Catamounts will close out the regular season on Saturday afternoon as they face No. 2 Boston University in a 4 p.m. start from Agganis Arena. The Terriers Senior Day contest will air on ESPN+. As always, the game will be broadcast live on WVMT with the voice of the Catamounts Adam Lafleur in the Handy Toyota Broadcast Booth. 

Handy Toyota is the presenting sponsor of the UVM men's hockey program