University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
10-12-4, 7-7-2HEA
New Hampshire
13-10-2, 7-7-1HEA
Evans Hat-Trick Leads Huskies to Wild Win at UNH
1/31/2020 9:46:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
DURHAM, N.H. – UConn sophomore Jonny Evans (North Delta, British Columbia) recorded his second hat-trick of the season to lead the Huskies to a 7-4 Hockey East win on the road at New Hampshire Friday night at the Whittemore Center.
Evans posted a career-best five points, adding two assists to his point totals as the Huskies take the opening game of a two-game Hockey East series and improve to 10-12-4 overall and 7-7-2 in the league. UNH falls to 13-10-2 overall and 7-7-1 in the conference.
UConn freshman Vladislav Firstov (Yaroslavl, Russia) had a career-high four points, scoring a goal and adding three assists while sophomore Jachym Kondelik (Budejovice, Czech Republic) had a career-high three assists in the win.
The Huskies jumped out to a 3-0 lead just over five minutes into the game but the Wildcats used three-straight power play goals to pull the game even in the second period. UConn tacked on two late goals in the second period and never looked trailed again on the way to the win.
Sophomore goaltender Tomas Vomacka (Trutnov, Czech Republic) came up with 42 saves in the win, stopping 20 in the second and 13 in the third. UNH finished 3-for-5 on the power play and outshot the Huskies 46-29.
UNH got a goal and an assist from Eric MacAdams and goals from Filip Engaras, Patrick Grasso and Eric Esposito.
1st Period:
The Huskies came out on fire and put three goals on the board in the first 5:11 of the game. Iskhakov gave UConn a 1-0 lead just 1:45 in, coming up with his eighth on the season. Evans was stopped on a wrap-around chance but the puck was sitting in front for Iskhakov to stuff home through bodies.
Turnbull made it 2-0 at the 4:32 mark, scoring his 10th goal on the season. Evans took a pass in the lower left circle and centered to Turnbull right in front who hit on the one-timer. Just 29 seconds later, Newpower made it 3-0 with his third of the season. On a delayed penalty call, the Huskies set up in the UNH zone and Kondelik threw a feed into the middle where an oncoming Newpower buried the one-timer from the slot for a 3-0 lead.
The Wildcats used their power play to claw back into the game. Getting a 5-on-3 chance midway through the period, UNH got their first of the night as Grasso set up for a one-timer from the left dot and buried from Jackson Pierson at 11:32. They pulled within 3-2 at the 12:20 mark as MacAdams drove the right post and shoveled a back-hander on Vomacka that deflected.
UConn GOAL!!!! Turnbull makes it 2-0 Huskies with his 10th on the season. #IceBus pic.twitter.com/SNptYKMRJ4
— UConn Men's Hockey (@UConnMHOC) February 1, 2020
2nd Period:
The Wildcats used the power play to tie the game up just 1:10 into the second. Jackson Pierson put the puck on net and a Vomacka stop left the rebound for Grasso to clean up near the left post to pull the game even at 3-3.
Late in the period, the Huskies grabbed some momentum back, putting back-to-back goals on the board just 33 seconds apart. Charging up the right wing, Firstov left the puck for a trailing Evans who buried a shot in the top-left corner, bar down at 17:35. Just 33 seconds later, Firstov got behind the UNH defense and broke in on Robinson, who made the initial stop but couldn't control the rebound and the freshman buried it for his 10th and a 5-3 lead.
Huskies take back the lead!!!!! UConn GOAL!!! Jonny Evans goes bar down for a 4-3 lead at 17:35. #IceBus pic.twitter.com/WsKeGDsFN2
— UConn Men's Hockey (@UConnMHOC) February 1, 2020
3rd Period:
The Huskies pushed it back to a three-goal advantage at the 7:39 mark as Evans buried his second of the night. On a quick change up ice, UConn got a 2-on-1 chance with Firstov carried up right wing, waited for the defense to commit and sent a perfect feed to Evans in the left circle who buried the one-time chance for a 6-3 lead.
UNH pulled back to within 6-4 at the 11:07 mark as Esposito drove the net hard to the right post and snuck one past Vomacka. The Wildcats would get another power play chance just minutes later but the Huskies killed it off to protect the two-goal lead.
The Huskies put the game away with an empty net goal as Evans completed the hat-trick with 2:03 left, throwing in one in from deep in the UConn zone.
UConn GOAL!!!! And the Huskies take a three-goal lead as Jonny Evans picks-up his 2nd on the night #IceBus
— UConn Men's Hockey (@UConnMHOC) February 1, 2020
OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH JONNNNNNNNYYYYY!!!! pic.twitter.com/1Rt4dZixcu
Up Next:
The Huskies and Wildcats will hit the ice again on Saturday afternoon, closing their season series from the XL Center. Opening face-off is at 4:05 pm and the game will be carried live throughout New England on NESN.
