UConn men's hockey beaten by Union, 4-1

UConn men’s hockey’s losing streak extended to three games with a 4-1 road defeat to the Union Garnet Chargers on Friday. The Huskies tied the game at 1-1 in the third and out-shot the hosts 18-5 over the final period but allowed three goals on those five shots (including an empty netter).

Over the last three games, UConn has managed just two goals.

Not only did the Huskies give up a power play goal, they also went 0-7 on the advantage themselves and failed to capitalize on an extended 5-on-3.

Arsenii Sergeev played well in net despite allowing three goals on 22 shots, saving multiple grade-A opportunities that would’ve made the scoreline even more lopsided. Harrison Rees had UConn’s lone goal.

The Huskies started on a bad foot, committing a penalty just 43 seconds into the game followed by another less than two minutes later. Just after getting back to even strength, they took their third trip to the box.

The penalty kill stepped up to keep the game scoreless — boosted by some incredible saves by Sergeev — but it wasn’t long until Union went ahead. The hosts thought they scored midway through the period but UConn challenged for goaltender interference and won. As it turned out, all it did was delay the inevitable.

Just moments later, the Garnet Chargers scored again — and this time it counted. The Huskies left Caden Villegas free in front of the net and he banged a one-time shot home to put Union up 1-0.

UConn had a golden opportunity to tie the game when it got a 1:27-long 5-on-3 advantage but slow puck movement and a lack of shots allowed the power play to expire.

The offense failed to light the lamp again in the second, which stretched the scoreless streak to six periods. The Huskies did come close — Owen Simpson had a shot hit off the inside of the post and come out and they couldn’t convert on a late power play — but not close enough.

Rees finally got UConn on the board by shoveling a loose puck in front home 91 seconds into the third. The Huskies then tilted the ice and held possession for their longest stretch of the season but killed their momentum by taking another penalty.

That was the start of their downfall. UConn allowed just its second power play goal of the season to go down 2-1 then after another sequence where it peppered the net with shots, the puck slipped out of the zone and sprung Union on a breakaway. Carter Korpi skated in and beat Sergeev clean to extend the Garnet Chargers’ advantage to 3-1.

The Huskies pulled the goalie to push for another goal and then got a 6-on-4 advantage after a Union power play, but the hosts sealed the win with an empty-net goal from the defensive zone. The 4-1 scoreline proved to be the final.

With the defeat, UConn falls to 1-3-1 on the season. It’ll look to salvage a series split on Saturday in game two of the weekend series at Union. Puck drop is set for 4 p.m. ET.