BOSTON, MA – It would take a minute and 12 seconds longer than regulation to determine a winner, but freshman forward Tyler Madden scored the game-winning goal in overtime to give #8 Northeastern a 2-1 win over #1 UMass.
In Northeastern’s first victory over the #1 team in the country since 2012, junior defenseman Jeremy Davies scored the lone Husky goal in regulation on a breakaway, and sophomore goaltender Cayden Primeau made 46 saves between regulation and overtime to limit the Minutemen to one goal. The win put Northeastern into sole possession of second place with 19 points. They still trail UMass for first place by one point, but the Minutemen have a game in hand.
Northeastern came out with more gusto and life than they had showed in the entirety of Friday’s contest. The Huskies tallied eight shots on goal in the opening frame, and the energy they brought was evident from the get-go. Neither team would light the lamp in the first period.
Davies would be the first goal-scorer for either team, scooping the puck off up off a turnover in the neutral zone and darting into the offensive end of the ice for a breakaway. Davies was able to deke sophomore goaltender Matt Murray and roof a back-handed shot, sending the sellout crowd at Historic Matthews Arena into a frenzy.
UMass would not go quietly into the night, and at 8:02 of the third period sophomore forward John Leonard, who was a scratch for Friday night’s game, skated into the slot and picked up a pass from freshman defenseman Ty Farmer and fired an equalizer passed Primeau. The Vorhees, NJ native made 17 saves in the third period and 46 total saves in the game. Primeau was one of the primary difference makers for Northeastern as he backstopped the Huskies every time the Minutemen came charging.
1:12 into overtime, Madden made a similar play to Davies, retrieving the puck in the neutral zone and driving hard on the right wing on Murray. Madden had the option to pass on the two-on-one that had developed but elected to shoot on Murray. The goal horn sounded and the Northeastern faithful roared as the Huskies celebrated one of their biggest regular season wins in recent memory.
Northeastern will face off against Providence in a home-and-home next weekend. The Huskies will travel to Rhode Island on Friday, January 25 with puck drop set for 7:00 p.m. WRBB will have full coverage beginning at 6:45 p.m.
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