University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
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Sacred Heart
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UConn Opens Season with 6-3 Win Over Sacred Heart
10/2/2021 10:00:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
HARTFORD, Conn. – The UConn Huskies scored three goals in the third period to come away with a season opening 6-3 win over visiting Sacred Heart Saturday afternoon from the XL Center. UConn junior Vladislav Firstov (Yarolsavl, Russia) scored twice for the Huskies in the win.
UConn ends a seven-game winless streak (0-6-1) against Sacred Heart with the win. The Huskies won the battle on special teams, scoring on their one power play chance while killing off all four SHU chances with the extra skater.
The Huskies led 2-1 after the first on Firstov's opening goal just 1:05 in and then a power play goal from sophomore Ryan Tverberg (Richmond Hill, Ontario). Firstov gave the Huskies a 3-1 lead midway through the second period on his second but SHU battle back to tie the score.
Sacred Heart goals by Kevin Lombardi and Ryan Steel sent the game to the third period tied, 3-3. UConn's senior captain Jachym Kondelik (Budejovice, Czech Republic) scored what would be the game-winner at 6:05, tucking his first of the season inside the post on a wrap-around chance.
UConn was able to tack on a pair of empty net goals with less than a minute to play, one from grad student Kevin O'Neil (Latham, N.Y.), his first as a Husky, and another from senior Marc Gatcomb (Woburn, Mass.)
The Pioneers held a 34-28 edge on shots but UConn goaltender Darion Hanson (East Bethel, Minn.) was up to the task making 31 saves to earn the win in his first career UConn start.
The Huskies will be back in action next weekend when they open up Hockey East play with a home-and-home series against nationally ranked Boston University. UConn will host BU on Friday night, October 8 at XL Center at 7:05 pm.
1st Period:
A turnover in the neutral zone led to the first goal of 2021-22 as UConn's Ryan Wheeler (Lancaster, NY) fed Firstov up the right wing and the junior snapped one to the far post for his first on the season and a 1-0 lead just 1:05 into the game.
Sacred Heart tied it up at 5:13 as the Pioneers dug the puck out of the corner to keep possession and Dante Palecco found Logan Britt in the high slot area where he was able to beat Hanson with a wrister to make it 1-1.
The Huskies got their only power play chance late in the first and took advantage just before it expired. Sophomore John Spetz (Oak Ridge, NJ) fed Hudson Schandor (North Vancouver, British Columbia) on the left circle who quickly sent a cross ice pass to Tverberg on the right dot who caught and fired for a 2-1 lead at 19:32.
UConn PP GOAL!!!
— UConn Men's Hockey (@UConnMHOC) October 2, 2021
Huskies get a late period power play and Ryan Tverberg buries a feed from Hudson Schandor for a 2-1 lead!#ICEBUS pic.twitter.com/4qk5Wc9qQ1
2nd Period:
UConn built their lead to 3-1 midway through the second as Tverberg set up Firstov with a long pass up ice. Getting behind the SHU defense, Firstov picked-up a long pass and broke toward the net, getting forced into a tough angle by the defender. The junior got a shot off just before circling the net and banked his shot off the back of the goaltender and in for his second of the night and a 3-1 edge at 9:30.
The Pioneers chipped away and pulled the game even before the end of the second. Britt set up the second SHU goal, firing a shot on net from the high left circle into traffic where Lombardi was able to get a tip in front to beat Hason and pull within 3-2 at 11:54. Steele picked the puck off the right half boards and used a great individual effort to shake a Husky defender and bury one from the right circle to make it 3-3 at 18:18.
UConn GOAL!!!
— UConn Men's Hockey (@UConnMHOC) October 2, 2021
FIrstov gets his 2nd on an impossible angle...#IceBus with a 3-1 lead midway through the 2nd period. pic.twitter.com/wG6ds5yysl
3rd Period:
Hanson stood tall in the third period, stopping all 13 shots he faced as the Huskies put three on the board to come away with the win. Kondelik provided what would be the game-winner at 6:05, picking-up a loose puck off a wide shot behind the net and quickly getting a back-hand wrap-around inside the goaltender pad at the left post for his first of the year and a 4-3 lead.
UConn tacked on a pair of empty net goals in the final minute of play. O'Neil grabbed a puck in the SHU zone on the right boards and forced his way up ice before snapping one in net from just inside the blue line at 19:14. Gatcomb extended the lead to 6-3 at 19:42 after collecting a deflected puck and racing up ice to deposit on the empty net.
UConn GOAL!!!
— UConn Men's Hockey (@UConnMHOC) October 2, 2021
Huskies back in front! Jachym Kondelik tucks one inside the goalie's pad and #IceBus leads 4-3 at 6:05 pic.twitter.com/lxYJPIEMgq
