Hockey: UConn Looks To Continue Winning Ways Tuesday at Merrimack
The UConn Huskies are in the road Tuesday night to face Merrimack in a Hockey East match-up. Tuesday's game is the make-up date of the previously scheduled December 3rd match-up.
UConn topped the Warriors at home two weeks ago on January 25, winning 3-2 at home in the XL Center. After two scoreless periods, Merrimack took an early third-period lead before the Huskies scored three goals in a span of 1:45 capped by the game-winner from Jonny Evans. The Huskies killed off a penalty with 1:45 left in the third and Merrimack with an empty net for a 6-on-4.
The Huskies are coming off a six-point Hockey East weekend thanks to a 2-1 win over No. 17 Providence and a 6-1 road win at New Hampshire. UConn, winners of four-straight Hockey East games, has moved up to tied for sixth in the standings with Northeastern both with 29 points. The Huskies are a point behind Merrimack and Providence who are tied in fourth place.
The Huskies received votes in this week's DCU/USHCO.com top-20 national poll and have moved up to 22nd in the PairWise rankings. UConn has eight games left in the regular season, five against teams in the current national polls and top-17 of the PairWise (Merrimack/15, UMass/6, Northeastern/17).
The Huskies have won three straight over Merrimack and five of the last seven meetings after their win at home in January. Under head coach Mike Cavanaugh, the Huskies are 6-6-5 against Merrimack and are 4-3-2 at home and 2-3-2 on the road.
On Friday night, UConn got a season split with nationally ranked Providence, posting a 2-1 win at home in the XL Center. Sophomore Ryan Tverberg scored the game-winner on a break-away with 4:17 left in the third period and added an assist in the win. Sophomore defenseman John Spetz had a goal and an assist in the win.
UConn made it a weekend sweep as six different Huskies scored goals on the way to a 6-1 win at New Hampshire, winning the season series with the Wildcats (2-1-0). Tverberg finished with a goal and an assist for a four-point weekend while classmate Artem Shlaine scored a goal with two assists to match his career-high for points. Shlaine had an assist in the PC win for a four-point weekend.
Senior Jachym Kondelik scored his ninth goal of the season in the UNH win, a new career-high for the senior. He has 22 points (9g/13a) on the season, sharing the team lead in scoring with Tverberg (11g//11a). Kondelik hits the 20-point mark for the fourth-straight season and is the Huskies leading active career point leader at 93 points (25g/68a). He has moved up to 10th on the Huskies Division I career points list. His 68 career assists are third on the Division I all-time list, three away from tying the school record (71 - Sean Ambrosie 2009-13).
The Kondelik/Tverberg duo is tied for 11th in Hockey East in scoring. Kondelik has four power-play goals and is tied for ninth. Tverberg's 11 goals lead the Huskies and are tied for eighth. Kondelik and Tverberg are candidates for the 2022 Hobey Baker Award. Fan voting is open now and will run through March 6. Fans can vote daily by visiting HobeyBaker.com/vote.
Junior Vladislav Firstov had a goal and an assist in the weekend's wins over Providence and UNH and has eight goals and eight assists on the season. In his last five games, Firstov has put up six points and has scored three goals.
UConn grad student goaltender Darion Hanson, who transferred in this season from Union, and has started 23 of the 24 games. He started his 100th career game at last weekend's Connecticut Ice tournament He allowed just two goals in last weekend's wins, stopping 51 of 53 shots faced. On the season, he owns a 2.25 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage, fifth and fourth among league leaders in both categories. He has played the second-most minutes in Hockey East and has a 641 saves on the season, fourth-best. He has been named to the 2022 Mike Richter Award watch list.
This Season vs. Merrimack
Jan. 25, 2022 - W, 3-2 - @ XL Center
- The UConn Huskies scored three goals in a span of 1:45 in the third period on the way to knocking off No. 19 ranked Merrimack at home two weeks ago.
- UConn senior Jonny Evans scored what proved to be the game-winner to cap off a three-goal rally that gave the Huskies a 3-1 lead at 4:14 in the third. Senior Jachym Kondelik scored his seventh goal on the season and junior Roman Kinal scored his second.
- The Huskies need to fend off a late surge by the Warriors that included killing off a power play with 1:45 left in the third and Merrimack with an empty net and 6-on-4. Grad student Darion Hanson made three of his 18 saves in that final stretch and the Huskies held on for the 3-2 win.
- After two scoreless periods, Merrimack's Liam Walsh opened the scoring just 1:07 into the third. The Warriors got a power-play goal from Steven Jandric to pull within 3-2 at 12:05.
- UConn held a 29-20 edge on shots while Hugo Ollas stopped 26 for Merrimack.
Source: UConn Athletics
