By: Josh Brown
BURLINGTON, Vt. – Friday night had all the makings of a trap game for the No. 12 Northeastern men’s hockey team. Just days removed from their first Beanpot championship in 30 years, the Huskies had a long trip up to Burlington to face the streaking Vermont Catamounts.
It did not matter.
Although Northeastern blew a 3-1 third period lead, John Picking scored at the 1:57 mark of overtime and the Huskies picked up their first win in Hockey East play since January 20.
Cayden Primeau got the start in net for Northeastern (18-8-5, 12-6-3), making 32 saves on the evening. Sophomore netminder Stefanos Lekkas stopped 22 shots for the Catamounts (9-10-6, 6-10-5).
Despite the victory, the Huskies remain in third place in Hockey East due to Providence’s come-from-behind 5-2 victory over UMass Lowell.
As they have done all season, Northeastern used special teams to its advantage to take a 2-0 lead in the game’s first five minutes. Zach Solow scored a shorthanded goal at the 2:56 mark of the first period and Dylan Sikura answered with a power play strike at 4:58.
Vermont cut the deficit to one less than five minutes later when Bryce Misley fed Anthony Petruzzelli a pass in open ice that the senior roofed over Primeau.
Northeastern pushed its lead back to two goals on Adam Gaudette’s 32nd career power play goal midway through the second. The junior received a pass from Dylan Sikura in the slot and sent a shot past Lekkas. The tally broke the school record for career power play goals.
The Catamounts fought back in the third period, receiving a pair of power play goals from Ross Colton and Petruzzelli. Petruzzelli’s strike came with just 29 seconds remaining on a feed from Liam Coughlin behind the net.
Despite the Catamounts carrying the momentum heading into the extra frame, Picking scored the overtime winner after Patrick Schule sent a pass into the slot from below the net.
Northeastern and Vermont will play game two of the series tomorrow night at 7 p.m. WRBB will have complete coverage, with pregame beginning at 6:45 p.m.
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