by Joe Barbito
BOSTON, MA – In true Northeastern fashion, it would take about five minutes of extra hockey for the Huskies to defeat the Black Bears when sophomore forward Austin Goldstein scored his first of the season to end things with a 2-1 victory.
Sophomore goaltender Cayden Primeau made 36 saves, including 16 in the second period alone. The pendulum of momentum swung back and forth vigorously all game as the Huskies tried to use their speed to match the Black Bears size.
Sophomore forward Eduards Tralmaks nearly started scoring in the second period as the Black Bears almost netted a short handed goal. Tralmaks and sophomore forward Emil Westerlund entered the zone on the right side of the ice. Westerlund burned past the Northeastern defense, skated to the goal line then put the puck into the crease. Primeau was unable to get a hold of it before Tralmaks knocked it in off his skate. The officials reviewed the goal and determined there was a distinct kicking motion.
Scoring opened up at 8:29 in the first when senior forward Lincoln Griffin forced a turnover and found freshman forward Tyler Madden streaking into the slot. Griffin put a pass perfectly on Madden’s stick who ripped a wrist shot past sophomore goaltender Jeremy Swayman to light the lamp.
Senior defenseman Eric Williams whiffed on a shot from inside the Black Bear blue line; sophomore defenseman Brady Keeper would end up skating into the offensive zone unimpeded. He was able to beat Primeau cleanly high on the blocker side.
Neither time could light the lamp in the third period. Primeau made 11 saves while Swayman made 13, and the pipes had their fair share of work to do as both teams rung iron in the final frame.
In today’s edition of unlikely heroes, sophomore forward Austin Goldstein scored his first goal of the season on a breakaway to send the fans home and put the shirts back on the kids in the DogHouse.
Northeastern will look to close the series out tomorrow night when they drop the puck with Maine for Game 2 of the Hockey East Quarterfinals at 7pm tomorrow.