Another day in the Hockey East season, another big upset.
One day after 17th-ranked UMass-Lowell knocked off No. 4 Boston College 5-2, unranked Vermont kicked off its season in style with a resounding 6-2 upset of No. 16 Northeastern.
Defenseman Mike Paliotta got the Catamounts (1-0-0) on the board late in the first period when he fired a one-timer past Huskies goaltender Clay Witt. Vermont opened the floodgates in the second period, though, pouring in four unanswered goals — including back-to-back scores from forward Jonathan Turk — to take a 5-0 lead.
Turk added a third-period goal to finish the night with a hat trick, while Northeastern (0-1-0) mustered two scores to settle the game at 6-2.
The Huskies will have another tough test against No. 5 Colgate next Friday night, while the Catamounts host Clarkson next Friday.
Around the League:
Penn State 7, Connecticut 1: The Nittany Lions (1-0-1) scored a program-record five goals in the second period, including two from forward Taylor Holdstrom, who also added an assist in the frame. Spencer Naas got the Huskies (0-1-1) on the board with six minutes remaining in the second, but Penn State’s offense simply could not be stopped.
Merrimack 2, Holy Cross 1: Sophomore Hampus Gustafsson scored a power-play goal 8:27 into the second period to break a 1-1 deadlock and give the Warriors (1-0-0) what proved to be the game-winning goal. Merrimack goaltender Rasmus Tirronen made a spectacular save down the stretch to deny the Crusaders (0-1-0) a chance to tie.
Providence 2, Ohio State 1 (OT): Forward Brian Pinho saved the day for the Friars (1-1-0), scoring with 45 seconds left in overtime for the win over the Buckeyes (1-1-0). Neither team scored until the third period, with Providence striking first with 12 minutes left in the period and Ohio State netting the equalizer less than a minute later.
Union 3, New Hampshire 1: The Wildcats (0-1-0) struck first with a second-period goal from Matt Willows, but the Dutchmen (2-0-0) stormed back with three goals — two of which came short-handed — over a four-minute span late in the second frame to take a 3-1 lead it didn’t relinquish.
Alaska 5, Maine 2: After the Black Bears (0-2-0) took the lead with a first-period goal from Blaine Byron, the Nanooks (2-0-0) poured in four consecutive goals to take a commanding 4-1 lead. Maine narrowed the deficit to 4-2, but Alaska’s Brandon Morley added an empty-netter to seal the win.
Photo via Twitter/@UVMmhockey
