University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
12-14-2, 7-10-1
Massachusetts
15-7-3, 8-5-2
Huskies Blanked by No. 12 UMass
2/9/2024 10:03:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
STORRS, Conn. – UMass goaltender Michael Hrabal stopped all 36 shots he faced Friday night as the No. 12 nationally ranked Minutemen dealt the UConn Huskies a 2-0 loss in Hockey East action in front of 2,691 at the Toscano Family Ice Forum.
The Huskies (12-14-2, 7-10-1 HEA) outshot the Minutemen 36-31 on the night but were held scoreless for the third-straight game at their on-campus home. UConn sophomore netminder Arsenii Sergeev (Yaroslavl, Russia) made 29 saves in taking the loss.
The two teams skated through two scoreless periods before UMass struck early in the third on back-to-back goals just 18 seconds apart. Scott Morrow drove the puck to the back of the net and fed a backhand pass right in front where Dans Locmelis was there to bury the one-timer chance for his sixth goal of the season and a 1-0 lead at 2:55.
The Minutemen (15-7-3, 8-5-2 HEA) went up 2-0 just 18 seconds later as Kenny Connors chased the puck into the corner and battle to get it out to Jack Musa in the right circle who put home a wrister for his 10th of the season.
Hrabal made it stand up from there, turning away all 16 UConn shots in the third. The Huskies pulled Sergeev with 3:13 left for the extra attacker but still couldn't solve the freshman goaltender on the way to the loss in game one of the weekend home-and-home.
Both teams finished the night 0-1 on the power play.
The Huskies and Minutemen close out their weekend set on Saturday night at the Mullins Center with a 7 pm puck drop live on NESN.
