Hockey East Roundup: No. 11 Vermont Pours In 11 Goals In Rout Of UMass

Apparently the University of Vermont wasn’t too happy with its previous performance, because it played like a team possessed Saturday night.

The No. 11 Catamounts (8-3-1) were upended by unranked Northeastern on Friday night. One day later, however, Vermont put an absolute beatdown on Massachusetts-Amherst (3-7-0) by scoring five goals in the third period en route to an 11-1 win.

The Catamounts wasted little time getting on the board and scored three goals in the first period, including a power-play goal from defenseman Alexx Privitera. Vermont finished 4-for-5 on the man advantage.

The Minutemen got on the board in the second period with a goal from defenseman Ben Gallacher, but it was all Catamounts from there. Forward Malcolm McKinney scored once in the second period and twice in the second to notch the hat trick.

Vermont goaltender Brody Hoffman stopped 28 of 29 shots to pick up the win. The Minutemen will get their chance for revenge Tuesday night, as the two teams will square off again in Burlington, Vt., in a game that will be televised on NESN at 7:05 p.m.

Around the League:

Boston University 5, UConn 2: The No. 3 Terriers (8-1-1) jumped out to a three-goal lead, but two third-period goals from the Huskies (3-6-4) cut the deficit to one goal. BU forward Danny O’Regan put home a rebound attempt with less than three minutes to go, and Ahti Oksanen scored an empty-netter to clinch the 5-2 win.

Providence 1, New Hampshire 0: It was a defensive battle between the No. 19 Friars (5-5-1) and the Wildcats (4-7-0), but Providence goaltender Nick Ellis notched 29 saves to earn his first career shutout. Friars forward Trevor Mingoia broke the deadlock with an even-strength goal eight minutes into the third period.

Boston College 4, Maine 1: The No. 12 Eagles (7-5-0) were locked in a 1-1 tie with the Black Bears (3-9-1) before forward Destry Straight scored two straight goals early in the second period to put the game out of reach. Straight also tallied an assist on BC’s first goal to give him three points on the night.

Northeastern 3, Merrimack 1: The Huskies (2-9-1) bounced back against the Warriors (8-4-1) thanks to first-period goals from forwards John Stevens and Dalen Hedges. Justin Mansfield got Merrimack on the board in the second period, but Northeastern’s Mike Szmulata scored on an empty net in the third to seal the win.

Photo via Facebook/Vermont Catamounts