NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Merrimack scored three power play goals and a shorthanded tally Friday night to top Vermont 5-2 in Hockey East action from Lawler Arena. The Warriors Caelan Fitzpatrick led the way with two goals and three assists for a career-high five points.

RELATED LINKS
Box Score
CatamounTV: Aegerter Reel
 
COACH'S QUOTE
"We really worked hard tonight," said Head Coach Steve Wiedler. "We took too many penalties and lost the special teams battle. Every time we clawed back into the game we kind shot ourselves in the foot. Undisciplined penalties I have to own. That's on me. We got out of the rink in about 15 minutes after the game ended. It's over, move on - learn the lessons. The video tomorrow will be pretty simple and straight forward. "
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Catamounts had two breakaway opportunities in the opening six minutes of the contest and Colin Kessler and Jonah Aegerter were robbed by Max Lundgren.
• Merrimack opened the scoring on their first power play of the contest at the 9:34 mark. From the top of the slot Parker Lalonde fired a shot that deflected off two UVM defenders before finding the back of the net for his 11th goal of the season.
• The Warriors doubled their lead with a shorthanded tally 2:34 into the second period. Fitzpatrick made it three straight games with a goal with his 10th goal of the year. Lalonde forced a turnover and Fitzpatrick caught a Vermont defender flat-footed on the play. Fitzpatrick deked to the far post and just beat UVM's Aiden Wright to make it 2-0.
• Fitzpatrick made it 3-0 with a power play goal 4:01 later. Lalonde found Fitzpatrick alone at the side of the Vermont net and he walked out and beat Wright with a quick snapshot. His second goal of the night made it his first collegiate multi-goal game.
• Vermont answered back with its own power play goal with 4:44 to play in the second period. Jack Malinski fired a shot toward Lundgren and it deflected off Jonah Aegerter in front of the net. Cédrick Guindon gathered the rebound and quickly fired a backhand from the side of the net that fooled Lundgren to make it 3-1.
• Aegerter made it a one-goal game 6:53 into the third period. In transition Jens Richards found Jack Malinski cutting to the Merrimack net. Lundgren made an initial stop on Malinski but Aegerter trailing on the play stashed it home for his seventh goal of the season.
• Caden Cranston reestablished the two-goal cushion with his fifth goal of the season with 9:47 to play in regulation. From the top of the slot Fitzpatrick fired a wrist shot on net and Cranston redirected in front to beat Wright to make it 4-2.
• The Warriors closed out the scoring with their third power play goal of the night. Lalonde made it 5-2 with his second of the game with 2:47 to play.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• With this evening's 5-2 decision, Community Bank N.A. will donate $100 to Special Olympics Vermont. Community Bank, N.A. donates $50 per goal to Special Olympics Vermont for every goal the men's and women's team scores this season.
• Jack Malinski has four assists in his last two games for the Catamounts. Tonight was his fifth career multi-point game.
• Cédrick Guindon led all skaters Friday night with six shots on goal. It is the third time this season a Vermont player has had six shots on goal.
• Tonight was Jonah Aegerter's third multi-point game of the season.

UP NEXT
The Catamounts are back in action tomorrow night for game two against the Warriors from Lawler Arena. Owen Gund will have the radio call on the Varsity Network and WVMT and the game will air live on ESPN+ at 7 p.m.
 
Vermont returns to historic Gutterson Fieldhouse for their regular season finale on Saturday, March 7 as they host No. 20 Maine on Vermont Construction Company Night. Action is slated to start at 7 p.m. and the Vermont Construction Company will provide co-branded t-shirts for the first 300 fans. Tickets are available now at go.uvm.edu/me37.

For news and updates about the Vermont men's hockey program, follow @UVMmhockey on Instagram, X, and Facebook, and visit UVMathletics.com.