No. 14 UConn battles past No. 11 Northeastern, 4-2

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No. 14 UConn men’s hockey handed the No. 11 Northeastern Huskies its first conference loss of the season, coming out on top in a 4-2 battle at Toscano Family Ice Forum on Friday night.

Jake Percival, who came into the game without a goal on 23 shots this season, notched the first hat trick of his career. The senior scored his first late in the second period, then recorded the game-winning goal and game-sealing empty-netter in the final frame.

Ethan Gardula had UConn’s other goal while Tyler Muszelik made 33 saves on 35 shots in the win. The penalty kill pitched a shutout for the first time in four games with a 3-3 effort while the power play went 0-2.

After 38 minutes of scoreless hockey, UConn exploded with two goals in 11 seconds. Shortly after the home Huskies’ second power play expired, Gardula broke the deadlock by re-directing a waist-high shot from Alexandre Blais over the goal line. After UConn won the ensuing face-off, Tristan Fraser worked around a defenseman and hit a wide-open Percival on the back post. The senior tapped it in for his first goal of the season to make it 2-0 in the blink of an eye.

UConn nearly extended the advantage early in the third period. Carlin Dezainde had a golden chance on the doorstep with Northeastern goaltender Lawton Zacher sprawled but the netminder caught just enough of the puck to send it wide.

4:27 in, the visitors finally got on the board. Dylan Compton fired a shot from the point that made its way through traffic, hit the post and went in. Seven minutes later, Northeastern tied it. On a 2v1 rush, a shot bounced off Muszelik’s glove and in to pull the other Huskies even at 2-2.

UConn picked up its goaltender after the soft goal, though. Just 26 seconds later, Percival put the hosts back ahead by tipping a shot from Tabor Heaslip in for his second goal of the night.

Northeastern pulled the goalie for the extra skater with 1:45 left but UConn quickly gained the upper hand. Tabor Heaslip blocked a shot, which helped the hosts clear the zone. Percival beat out an icing and got the puck to Ryan Tattle, whose shot hit the side of the net and stayed out. Despite that, UConn retained possession and the puck eventually found its way back to Percival, who buried the empty-netter to nab the hat trick.

With the win, UConn improves to 5-4-2 on the season and 3-2-1 in Hockey East. The Huskies will try to finish off their first sweep of the year on Saturday night when they take on Northeastern at Matthews Arena.

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