University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
12-13-4,9-8-2HEA
Maine
16-10-4, 10-8-2HEA
Huskies Dealt Tough 1-0 Loss at No. 17 Maine in OT
2/15/2020 10:26:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
ORONO, Maine – The UConn men's hockey team played the No. 17 Maine Black Bears to a scoreless tie through three periods and 4:07 of overtime but Mitchel Fossier scored the game-winner with 53 seconds left to deliver the Huskies a 1-0 loss at Alfond Arena.
The Huskies and Black Bears split the weekend series but UConn wins the season series, 2-1. The Huskies are now 12-13-4 overall and see their five-game Hockey East winning streak end as they move to 9-8-2 in league. Maine is now 16-10-4 overall and 10-8-2 in the conference.
UConn's sophomore goaltender Tomas Vomacka (Trutnov, Czech Republic) made 25 saves in taking the loss. The Huskies held a 41-26 edge on shots but came up 0-for-3 on the power play. The UConn penalty kill did kill off all three Maine power plays including a third period 5-on-3 chance.
It was just the second time this season the Huskies have been shutout. Maine's Jeremy Swayman made 41 saves to earn the win. Fossier scored his eighth goal on the season to deliver the Maine win in overtime.
1st Period:
The Huskies and Black Bears played a scoreless first period with UConn holding a 9-8 edge on the shot chart. Both teams came up empty on their only power play chance of the first 20 minutes.
2nd Period:
The Huskies outshot Maine 17-7 in the second period and got another power play chance but still came up empty on Swayman.
3rd Period:
The Huskies had a third power play chance in the third but again came up empty. After killing off a too-many men on the ice penalty, the Black Bears got a power play chance at 15:20 on a tripping call on junior Adam Karashik (Ridgefield, Conn.). A boarding call on Wyatt Newpower (Hugo, Minn.) gave Maine a 5-on-3 chance for 57 seconds and it looked like they took the lead at 17:19.
A shot from the point by Veli Matti Tiuraniemi came off a broken stick and deflected in front to Fossier in the right circle who buried it on the open net. After a review, the goal was waved off for goaltender interference as Vomacka was knocked down and couldn't not play his position on the play. The Huskies killed of the remainder of the penalties and the game went to overtime tied at 0-0.
OT:
The Black Bears got some early scoring chances but came up with the game-winner in the final minute of play. JD Greenway broke up a play in the neutral zone and chipped the puck up to Tim Doherty who carried into the left corner. Doherty sent a feed to Fossier coming on in front who buried it for the game-winner with 53 seconds left.
Up Next:
UConn is back at home at the XL Center on Friday night, February 21 for the first half of a home-and-home Hockey East series with Boston University.
