UConn downed by UVM in overtime, 1-0

A power play goal in overtime sank UConn men’s hockey on a barren day offensively, falling to the Vermont Catamounts, 1-0.

After 60 minutes of scoreless hockey, the two sides went to 3×3 overtime. UVM got on a power play after a holding penalty against Jake Percival and ultimately capitalized with a game winner from Joel Maatta.

The Huskies had a 30-19 edge in shots on the day, but it didn’t translate on the scoreboard. They went 0-2 on the power play but just 1-2 on the penalty kill. Tyler Muszelik was excellent between the pipes in the loss, stopping 18 of 19 shots.

UVM had the puck early and put a few shots on goal in the opening minutes. But once UConn settled, it took over. The Huskies held the visitors without a shot for over 17 minutes while racking up 13 shots themselves through the opening period, partly thanks to two power plays.

Despite that, they nearly went into the first intermission down 1-0. In the closing seconds, the Catamounts got a late chance via an odd-man rush but Muszelik turned it away at the buzzer to preserve the tie.

The middle stanza followed a similar script. UConn had the lion’s share of possession and held a 7-3 edge in shots on goal but couldn’t find the back of the net. The game remained scoreless into the final period.

The third featured more action — a combined 18 shots on net, most of any period — but neither side broke through despite the chances. At one point, the Huskies put the puck into the crease behind UVM’s goaltender only for it to stay out while the Catamounts had a few odd-man rushes that they failed to capitalize on.

In overtime, Jake Richard had a golden chance to win it with a wide-open chance on the back post but Vermont got a stick on the shot to keep it out. With 2:13 left, Percival got sent to the penalty box for holding, which gave the visitors a 4-on-3 power play.

UConn couldn’t get a clearance — the one time the puck left the zone, it hit someone on the bench and ended up back inside the blue line — and the Catamounts ultimately made them pay. Jax Wismer — a former Husky commit — skated to the center of the ice and dropped a pass back to Maatta, who ripped a one-timer for the win.

With the loss, UConn falls to 4-3-1 overall and 1-2-1 in Hockey East. The Huskies will look to bounce back in the second game of the series on Saturday. Puck drop is set for 3 p.m. ET at Toscano Family Ice Forum.