BOSTON, MA – The moniker “Heart-Attack Huskies” may have been revived for some older fans of Northeastern hockey, as the Huskies needed another set of overtime heroics from freshman forward Tyler Madden to defeat Boston University, 2-1, and advance to the Beanpot final.
It was a perfect scene for the first Monday of February – a beautiful day, packed student sections, and two long-standing rivals looking for blood. Just under a year ago Northeastern defeated Boston University at TD Garden for their first Beanpot title in 30 years. Today, they had the chance to defend it against the very team who had given them fits for decades. Leave it to two kids, one from New York and one from Florida, to score both Husky goals in Boston’s most historic hockey tournament.
Scoring began at 3:14 into the first period when senior forward Patrick Schule turned the fruits of his forechecking labor into his eight goal of the year. Schule pressed hard in the offensive zone to force BU to turn the puck over. With senior forward Liam Pecararo able to find a loose puck in the offensive zone, Schule got himself open in front of junior goaltender Jake Oettinger. Pecararo fed Schule across the ice and the Queens, New York native put Northeastern up early.
A series of minor penalties put Northeastern back on their heels, but ultimately the Huskies were able to kill them off and hold their 1-0 lead. All-in-all, Northeastern would kill four power plays and lean heavily on sophomore goaltender Cayden Primeau.
With 21 seconds left in the first period, freshman forward Joel Farabee gave the Terriers their first score of the night. Farabee would end up having one of the best games of any skater on either team.
In the second period Northeastern gave up two separate breakaway chances both to Farabee. Both times Cayden Primeau was able to get out in front of his crease and shut him down.
The second period featured plenty of offense from Northeastern but nothing past Oettinger. After Farabee’s goal, another tally wouldn’t be scored in regulation.
Both teams had a fair number of chances and the Huskies had multiple sequences where Madde, Schule, Pecararo and others all seemed to be on the cusp of netting the game winner.
It wasn’t until after the puck was dropped in overtime that another goal would be scored. Junior defenseman Jeremy Davies expertly flung a pass from within his own zone to Tyler Madden on the far side of the ice. Madden turned his breakaway chance into one he would never forget by putting the puck past Oettinger to send Northeastern to the Beanpot Championship game next weekend.
The Huskies will face off against Boston College on Monday, February 11. Before that, Northeastern will face UConn in a Hockey East matchup on Thursday.
Northeastern is attempting to repeat as Beanpot Champions for the first time since 1984-85.