The Forecheck: While UConn's offense flounders, the defense is dominating

Welcome to the UConn Hockey Hub newsletter, which catches you up on all the stories, trends, and anything else you might have missed, along with some quick takes and leftover notes from the weekend.

UConn’s defense has been dominant

UConn men’s hockey’s offense can’t do anything right now. The Huskies put 88 shots on net this past weekend against UMass Lowell and only scored two goals. They’ve been shut out twice — both times on home ice. They’ve surpassed the three-goal mark in just three of eight games. The power play is a horrific 2-for-34.

Despite that, UConn has been in every game this season — only one loss has been decided by more than a goal (excluding empty-netters) — thanks to a standout defense.

The Huskies rank seventh nationally in goals allowed per game with just 1.88 (minimum three games played) and have kept every opponent under 30 shots since the opening weekend. They’ve only allowed three or more goals twice and already have a shutout. Despite the offense’s ineptitude, the team still has a positive goal differential (plus-1, 16 for and 15 against).

Opponents have struggled to go up against UConn’s defense in both 5-on-5 situations and with the advantage. The Huskies have allowed just two power play goals on 31 attempts (the power play has given up the same amount of scores) and recently, the unit has barely given up dangerous chances.

It also helps that UConn’s two goalies have been spectacular. Arsenii Sergeev owns a 2.00 GAA and .927 save percentage while Ethan Haider has somehow been even better with a 1.23 GAA and .946 save percentage — both of which rank among the top 10 in the nation.

“Our goaltenders, their numbers are crazy good,” Mike Cavanaugh said after the loss on Saturday. “But it's not fair to ask them just to keep the game at zero or one.”

UConn needs to figure out how to score goals — and fast — to get its season back on track. But if the Huskies ever start putting the puck in the back of the net at a high clip, they’ll be primed to go on a run considering how good the defense has been.

Week in review

• UConn Hockey Hub Podcast: A tale of two games (Ep. 75)

• UConn men's hockey earns thrilling OT victory over UMass Lowell, 2-1

• UConn beats the odds to pull out unlikely victory over UMass Lowell

• UConn men's hockey shutout by UMass Lowell, 1-0

• Once again, UConn piles up shots but can't find the back of the net

Last week’s Forecheck:

• The Forecheck: Spotlighting three standouts from UConn's win

Three stars

First star: Andrew Lucas

The defenseman got his first point of the year by setting up Chase Bradley’s game-tying goal at the end of regulation then scored his first goal of the year with the winner in overtime. Lucas also helped break up a dangerous 3-on-1 rush from UMass Lowell in overtime, which eventually led to his goal.

Second star: The goaltenders

Arsenii Sergeev and Ethan Haider faced 53 shots across the two games and allowed just two goals total. After Friday’s thrilling victory, Cavanaugh had especially high praise of Sergeev.

“He fought the puck in the first period an awful lot and I think it showed a lot of maturity from him that he was able to reset,” he said. “He made one spectacular save in the third period to keep it at one which let us get back in the game.”

Third star: Hudson Schandor

UConn’s game-winning goal on Friday might’ve come off the stick of Lucas, but it wouldn’t have happened without a beautiful cross-ice saucer pass from Hudson Schandor. He also went 18-11 on face-offs during Saturday’s game.

Play of the Week

This pass by Hudson Schandor…

Ice-cold capture

Best of social media

The week ahead

UConn men’s hockey will head north for a two-game set at Vermont while UConn women’s hockey has a home-and-home with Northeastern. The Huskies will battle in Boston on Friday and in Storrs on Saturday.