HAMDEN, CT — After opening Hockey East play with a win over Providence on Friday and following it up with a victory over New Hampshire on Sunday, conference play immediately took a pause as No. 6 Northeastern traveled west for a top-10 weekend series matchup with No. 4 Quinnipiac.
Friday night lived up to expectations, as the two heavyweights exchanged blows across three periods and five minutes of bonus hockey before the game ended in a 2-2 tie, with Quinnipiac winning the shootout.
“Obviously we would have liked to come out of that with a shootout win, but we earned a tie against a really good team,” said Northeastern assistant coach Lindsay Berman. “I think it showed a lot of character.”
The opening period was evenly matched, with Quinnipiac holding an 11-7 edge in shots on goal. Northeastern struck first just over five minutes in when senior forward Allie Lalonde scored her first goal of the season from in front of the net.
“It felt amazing,” Lalonde said. “Definitely got my confidence going a little there.”
For Berman, Lalonde’s positioning reflected the player she has become during her four years with the Huskies.
“For her to get the first one parked right out front to get us going is Allie,” Berman said.
The Bobcats answered four minutes later with a goal from junior defender Mikayla Watson, bringing the teams even at 1-1.
Northeastern won eight of 12 faceoffs in the period and had the frame’s only two power plays, but struggled to establish its forecheck with the extra skater. The Huskies failed to convert on either chance, leaving the teams tied entering the first intermission.
In the second period, Quinnipiac took control early. Just over a minute in, senior forward Kahlen Lamarche used a toe drag to create a 1-on-0 before lifting a backhand shot into the top of the net to make it 2-1.
Quinnipiac’s forecheck limited Northeastern’s offensive chances, helping the Bobcats outshoot the Huskies 9-4 in the period. Northeastern continued to control the faceoff dots, winning seven of nine draws, but struggled to translate those possessions into chances.
With 8:25 remaining in the second, freshman forward Lily McInerney lowered her shoulder into graduate defender Ellie Gauvin and received a two-minute minor for interference. Quinnipiac spent the first minute and seven seconds of the power play in the offensive zone before Northeastern finally cleared the puck.
The Huskies killed the penalty to keep the deficit at one, but Quinnipiac’s pressure made it difficult for Northeastern to exit its defensive zone.
“On their forecheck we just needed to take a breath,” Berman said. “We kind of knew what was coming.”
Berman said the coaching staff emphasized communication among the defenders and composure with the puck. Although the Bobcats controlled much of the period, Northeastern began finding its footing as the intermission approached.
“We felt like we had the momentum at the end,” Berman said. “So, the conversation was we just played the last 10 [minutes] how we [wanted] to play. So, we got to carry that [momentum] in.”
The Huskies also emphasized puck control and execution during the intermission.
“We talked a lot about not turning over pucks and holding on to them a little bit more,” Berman said. “Pucks were bouncing off our sticks, [so we had] to make plays at the end of the day and we started to do that.”
The response came a few minutes into the third period when freshman forward Ivana Wey scored her first collegiate goal to tie the game at 2-2.
“I’m glad she got one tonight because I think that’s kind of a monkey off her back because she’s been really close,” Berman said. “But for her to get one, and a pivotal one, a tying goal there is huge.”
Lalonde also praised the newcomer’s impact.
“She’s been a great asset to our team this year, and I think her line and our line have both been working well,” she said.
Northeastern sustained its pressure after the equalizer, outshooting Quinnipiac 8-5 in the third period. After struggling to generate opportunities through the first two frames, the Huskies began testing Quinnipiac goaltender Casey Clausen more consistently.
Berman explained increasing the shot total was only part of the adjustment. Northeastern also needed to be more selective and get bodies in front of the net to create more difficult saves for Clausen.
“We talked a lot about shot volume, shot selection, and getting our bodies to the net,” Berman said. “And we thought we were seeing that toward the end of the game.”
For Lalonde, the tying goal gave the Huskies a lift that carried through the rest of regulation.
“I think tying the game like that gave our team a lot of confidence,” Lalonde said. “It was just a great team experience to come back against this team.”
Junior defender Kamdyn Davis got a shot off with two seconds remaining, but Northeastern could not find another goal before the horn, sending the teams into overtime tied at two.
The Huskies continued to push during the five-minute extra period, holding a 4-1 advantage in shots on goal. Clausen kept Northeastern off the board, however, and neither team broke through.
After Quinnipiac outshot Northeastern 20-11 through two periods, the Huskies finished with a 12-6 edge across the third period and overtime, leaving a narrow 26-23 advantage overall for the Bobcats.
With the game officially recorded as a tie, the teams proceeded to a shootout. Junior defender Aynsley D’Ottavio scored the lone goal, and Clausen denied the Huskies to give Quinnipiac the shootout win.
Friday also marked the return of junior forward Éloïse Caron, who rejoined Northeastern’s first line after attending a Team Canada camp. Lalonde welcomed the opportunity to reconnect with her linemate.
“It’s been awesome just getting back into our chemistry like the years before,” Lalonde said.
Berman said Caron’s return gave the team a boost. After a long week and an early flight Thursday morning, Caron had little time to settle back in before facing the Bobcats.
“I thought she battled pretty well tonight,” Berman said. “I’m excited to see her now with a night’s sleep and see what she brings tomorrow.”
With the teams meeting again Saturday, Northeastern will look to carry its late momentum into the rematch. Berman said the Huskies would review video, address their mistakes, and prioritize recovery before the second game.
The central message is to bring Friday’s finishing effort to Saturday’s opening faceoff.
Northeastern returns to action Friday afternoon with a 2 p.m. matchup against Providence. Mike Kaminsky and Max Schwartzberg will have the call on WRBB Sports+.
Max Schwartzberg is a senior at Northeastern and covers hockey, basketball, and baseball in print and on air. He is also a Cape Cod Baseball League announcer for the Hyannis Harbor Hawks. You can read his articles here and follow his Instagram here.