UConn falls to Merrimack in Hockey East title game, 2-1

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For the second straight year, UConn men’s hockey fell in the Hockey East championship game, this time by a 2-1 final to the 8-seed Merrimack Warriors. The two sides went into the second intermission tied at 1-1 but Merrimack scored 26 seconds into the third period. From there, it parked the bus and held on for the victory.

The Huskies finished with a 50-25 advantage in shots — including 22-7 in the third period — and a 100-58 edge in attempts, but it wasn’t enough. They drop to 0-3 in Hockey East title games.

Ethan Whitcomb scored the lone goal for UConn. The Huskies went 2-2 on the penalty kill and never had a power play opportunity. Tyler Muszelik stopped 23 of 25 shots.

UConn had a few nervy moments in the early going. Muszelik had to make a tough save and right after, Brendan Dunphy cleared the puck out of the crease. The Huskies quickly settled in and created a few looks down the other end, though nothing seriously threatened the net.

With 3:56 left in the opening period, UConn took the first penalty of the night when Dunphy went to the box for hooking. 15 seconds later, Jake Percival joined him there for a trip 200 feet from his own goal. That gave the Warriors a 1:45-long 5-on-3.

Despite the two-man advantage, Merrimack managed just a single shot on net and the Huskies came up with the kill. The game remained scoreless at the first intermission.

2:29 into the middle stanza, the Warriors struck first. Trevor Hoskin fired a shot off the back boards that bounced to Ryan O’Connell, who scored to give Merrimack the 1-0 lead.

UConn nearly answered back when Tristan Fraser centered a pass to Jake Percival in front of an open net, but the Warriors’ defensemen cleared the danger.

Finally, the Huskies got on the board with 2:38 left in the second period. Anthony Allain-Samaké’s shot from the point was turned away by Merrimack goalie Max Lundgren, but the rebound landed perfectly on the stick of Whitcomb. The sophomore sent it straight into the twine to tie it at 1-1. That score held into the second intermission.

Just 26 seconds into the third period, the Warriors went back ahead. UConn turned it over in the corner and Parker Lalonde ripped a shot on net. Muszelik turned it away but sent the rebound straight to Caelen Fitzpatrick, who scored to put Merrimack on top, 2-1.

From there, the Warriors sat back to win it with their defense. The Huskies dominated possession and piled up the shots but couldn’t find the equalizer.

They had two golden chances in the same sequence when Percival’s shot hit a body and landed in the crease, only to have it cleared. The puck found its way to Allain-Samaké who had an empty net to shoot at, but had his attempt blocked by a skater in front.

UConn put 50 attempts on goal in the final 20 minutes but just couldn’t find the tying goal. The clock eventually ran out on its comeback hopes as Merrimack came away with its first-ever Hockey East championship.

Tom Messineo was the Huskies’ lone selection to the all-tournament team.

With the loss, the Huskies fall to 20-12-5 on the season. UConn can still make the NCAA Tournament if Michigan beats Ohio State in the Big Ten championship game.

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