University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
12-12-4, 9-7-2HEA
Maine
15-10-4, 9-8-2HEA
UConn Deals No. 17 Maine First Home Loss on the Year, 3-2
2/14/2020 10:44:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
ORONO, Maine – The UConn men's hockey team got the game-winning goal from Maine native and senior captain Benjamin Freeman (Falmouth, Maine) in the third period as the Huskies knocked-off the No. 17 nationally ranked Maine Black Bears, 3-2, Friday night at Alfond Arena.
The Huskies deal the Black Bears their first loss at home this season and even their record at 12-12-4 overall and improve to 9-7-2 in Hockey East thanks to their third-straight win. Maine losses for the first-time in five games and are now 15-10-4 overall and 9-8-2 in the league.
Freeman scored his fifth on the season on the way to a career-high three point night (1g/2a) to lead UConn. The Huskies top-line of Freeman, classmate Alexander Payusov (Montreal, Quebec) and sophomore Carter Turnbull (Nanaimo, British Columbia) had all three UConn goals on Friday night.
Turnbull finished the night with a career-best three assists while Payusov chipped in with a goal and an assist. Freshman defenseman Jake Flynn (Bridgewater, Mass.) scored his first career goal in the win. The Huskies finished with a 36-26 edge on shots but were 0-for-3 on the power play. Sophomore goaltender Tomas Vomacka (Trutnov, Czech Republic) had 24 saves in the win.
For Maine, Tim Doherty had a power play goal, his 14th goal this season, and Samuel Rennaker tied it up in the second period for the Black Bears, his fifth on the year. Goaltender Jeremy Swayman stopped 33 shots.
Senior Captain Ben Freeman from Falmouth, Maine on tonight's 3-2 win over the Black Bears #IceBus pic.twitter.com/MPYmZyxtY3
— UConn Men's Hockey (@UConnMHOC) February 15, 2020
1st Period:
The Huskies had a strong start, putting 12 shots on net to Maine's four in the first 20 minutes and found the back of the net twice. UConn grabbed a 1-0 lead just 4:31 in as Flynn got his first collegiate goal. Turnbull burst into the zone and cut to the slot, firing on Swayman who made the stop. Flynn was right there to quickly clean up the rebound for a 1-0 lead.
Turnbull set up the second UConn goal at the 10:23 mark. Coming off a face-off in the Maine zone, Freeman played the puck into the corner and Turnbull carried behind the net, feeding Payusov in the right circle who blasted a one-timer past Swayman to the near post for a 2-0 UConn lead.
2nd Period:
Maine answered back with two of their own in the second period to tie it up and set up an exciting third period. The Black Bears used their power play to grab their first goal at the 8:00 minute mark. Veli-Matti TIuraniemi sent a cross-ice feed to Doherty in the right circle who buried the one-timer on an open net to pull his team within 2-1.
The Black Bears got the tying goal at 11:53 as Rennaker was able to get position in front of the net and get a redirect on a Jakob Sirota shot from the high point through traffic.
3rd Period:
The Huskies got the game-winner at 10:39 in the final stanza as Freeman capped a three-point night. The puck went in deep where Turnbull collected behind the net and fed an oncoming Freeman. The senior had patience, drawing Swayman out of net before roofing a shot over the outstretched goaltender for the game-winning goal.
Up Next:
The Huskies and Black Bears will close out their season series on Saturday night live on NESN. Puck drop is slated for 7:30 pm.
