UConn beats Providence in 6-5 thriller

The No. 20 UConn Huskies beat the No. 9 Providence Friars in a 6-5 thriller on Thursday night at Schneider Arena. After a scoreless opening period, the teams each recorded four goals during a wild middle stanza. In the third, the Friars went ahead 5:08 in, only for the Huskies to answer with a pair of goals over the next 1:48 to take the lead for good.

Despite getting outshot 38-24, UConn earned its first regulation victory since the season opener.

Joey Muldowney (2-1—3), Jeremy Loranger (2-1—3) and Alexandre Blais (0-3—3) led the Huskies’ offense — as did the power play, which officially finished 2-6 on the night but notched another goal as a penalty expired. Kaden Shahan and Ethan Whitcomb also found the back of the net in the victory.

Meanwhile, the penalty kill posted another shutout, going 5-5. In goal, Kam Hendrickson stopped 33 of 38 shots, an .868 save percentage.

While no goals were scored in the first period, it wasn’t for a lack of action. Providence came out on the front foot and controlled play early. UConn only made things worse by taking three penalties in the span of 6:14 but the PK unit stepped up and kept the game scoreless.

As the Huskies’ third penalty expired, the Friars went to the box for the first time, then earned a second trip soon after. UConn had some good looks on the man advantage but couldn’t capitalize.

In the second period, all hell broke loose. On an early power play for Providence, Muldowney drew a penalty shot on a shorthanded breakaway. The senior captain deked across the face of the goal and buried a backhander to put the Huskies on top, 1-0.

The lead wouldn’t last long — which would prove to be a theme of the night. 49 seconds later, Providence answered to pull even at 1-1.

Exactly two minutes onward, UConn went back ahead when Loranger blasted a one-timer home on the power play to make it 2-1. Just under three minutes after that, Muldowney buried a rebound for a pseudo-power play goal to double the advantage.

From there, the Friars needed just 1:29 to tie the game at 3-3. But 1:36 after that, Kaden Shahan scored on a lucky bounce to give the Huskies a 4-3 lead. With 85 seconds left in the period, Providence equalized and sent the two sides into the second intermission deadlocked at four goals apiece.

5:08 into the third, the hosts took their first and only lead of the night. 16 seconds later, Whitcomb answered back to tie it at five goals apiece. After another 1:32, Loranger scored the eventual game-winning on the power play to make it 6-5.

Providence pulled its goaltender with 1:43 to play but UConn held strong for the victory.

The Huskies improve to 4-4-1 overall and 2-2-1 in Hockey East play. Next, they’ll return home to finish out the series with the Friars on Saturday at Toscano Family Ice Forum. Puck drop is set for 5 p.m. ET.

UConn goals

Special teams stays hot

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