UConn celebrates after shutting out UMass-Lowell at the XL Center in Hartford Saturday night, 2-0. (Stephen Slade photo courtesy of UConn Sports Information)
HARTFORD, Jan. 10 – How about those Huskies? For the fourth time this season, the University of Connecticut men’s hockey team has defeated a nationally ranked opponent.
Connecticut’s sophomore goalie Rob Nichols made 21 saves and freshman Spencer Nass scored a late third period goal as the Huskies beat No. 5 UMass-Lowell before 6,855 fans at the XL Center on Saturday night.
UConn handed UMass-Lowell its first Hockey East loss of the season snapped the River Hawks’ six-game winning streak. They add UMass-Lowell to the list of nationally ranked opponents they have beaten. Earlier this year, UConn beat No. 15 Quinnipiac, 4-1; No. 3 Boston College, 1-0 and No. 10 Vermont, 2-1.
The Huskies (7-10-4, 4-4-1 Hockey East) also won consecutive games for the first time this season. UConn beat Army, 6-3 on Friday night at West Point.
UConn put together a solid defensive performance in front of Nichols, limiting the River Hawks to just 21 shots while coming up with 23 blocked shots and killing off all three UMass Lowell power plays in the win. Nichols made 10 of his 21 saves in the third period to earn his fourth career shutout victory. The Huskies outshot UML 27-21 on the night.
The Husky power play struggled to get started, being held without a shot on net during a five-minute man-advantage. Adam Chapie was given a five-minute major for boarding at 10:43 but the Huskies failed to get a shot through on Kevin Boyle during the ensuing power play. The two teams would close out a scoreless first period with UConn limiting UML to just four shots.
In the second period, the River Hawks gave UConn its second power play chance at the 9:18 mark and the Huskies capitalized. Junior Shawn Pauly cycled the puck to Jacob Poe in the high slot and the senior defensemen got his shot through traffic and a screen by classmate Trevor Gerling to beat Boyle for a 1-0 lead at 10:40. It was Poe’s second goal on the year and third point in the last four games.
UMass Lowell (14-4-3, 7-1-2 Hockey East) cranked up the offensive pressure in the third period but couldn’t beat Nichols.
UConn pushed the action late in the period and looking to maintain possession came-up with an insurance goal. Gerling shot the puck up to freshman Spencer Naas on the left half boards and the rookie looked to get the puck on net. Naas whipped a shot that deflected off a UML defender and sneaked past Boyle for a 2-0 lead with 1:44 remaining in the game.
For Naas, it was his sixth goal in the last six games and gives the freshman a team-leading nine goals on the season.
The River Hawks used a time-out off the Naas goal and were able to pull Boyle for the final 1:22 looking to get on the scoreboard. The UConn defense was up to the task in the final minute, getting a pair of clears while holding the puck in the UML zone as the horn sounded on another upset win.
The Huskies are back in action this weekend when they face-off for the first time with Notre Dame in a Hockey East home-and-home series.
UConn will make the trip to South Bend on Friday night for their national TV debut on NBC Sports Network. The two teams will meet again on Sunday afternoon at noon from the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport.
UConn 2, UMass-Lowell 0
At Hartford
MA-Lowell (14-4-3) 0 0 0 — 0
UConn (7-10-4) 0 1 1 — 2
Goals: Jacob Poe (C), Spencer Naas (C); Assists: Shawn Pauly (C), Johnny Austin (C), Trevor Gerling (C); Saves: Rob Nichols (C) 21, Kevin Boyle (L) 25; Shots: UConn, 27-21; Att. – 6,855
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