UConn men's hockey exceeding expectations at halfway point

Expectations were low for UConn men’s hockey entering the season. The Huskies were coming off a disappointing 2023-24 campaign then experienced an exodus of talent during the offseason. They were picked to finish ninth in Hockey East, though some metrics put them at the bottom of the league.

Instead, UConn got better. A much-improved locker room set the foundation for a team that’s faster, mentally tougher and significantly more fun to watch. The Huskies sit at 7-7-1 overall and 4-6-1 in Hockey East but are firmly in the NCAA Tournament conversation at 15th in the Pairwise — the first team outside the field — with plenty of opportunities to boost their standing. UConn has surpassed even the most optimistic expectations.

Much of that is the result of player development. Jake Richard looks like a bonafide star as a sophomore, Ryan Tattle already has a career-high six goals, Jake Percival matched his previous best of seven goals and Joey Muldowney has emerged as a difference-maker.

All four contributed last season but now, they’re driving the bus. That group, along with the likes of Hudson Schandor, Tabor Heaslip and Tristan Fraser, have formed a core that’s allowed the freshmen to step in without too much being placed on their shoulders.

As a result, UConn is averaging 2.9 goals per game after being offensively-challenged last season.

Down the other end of the ice, the Huskies have survived instability between the pipes. Callum Tung missed the first 12 games of the season and when he finally returned, Tyler Muszelik went down with an injury. At no point has UConn dressed all three goalies in the same game. The Huskies even had to turn to third-string freshman Tommy Heaney for four periods against Boston University and Boston College.

Muszelik has been serviceable with a 2.59 goals against average and .897 save percentage — numbers that would probably improve if he split time. Tung, meanwhile, is off to a spectacular start with a 1.34 GAA and .958 save percentage in three games, though he’s struggled with rebound and crease control, which could lead to some regression as he sees more action.

Still, UConn’s outlook at goal in the second half is bright.

For the Huskies to keep it going after the winter break — or even improve — they have to figure out their special teams. While they’re tied for the national lead with five shorthanded goals, the units have otherwise been sub-par.

UConn’s penalty kill, which was a top-15 unit over the last three seasons, sits 32nd at 81.1 percent. The power play has looked okay but hasn’t scored at 13.0 percent, which is 10th-worst in the country.

They’ve have also struggled in 6-on-5 situations, giving up two game-tying goals while allowing another to BC that cut their lead down to one.

That’s led to some inconsistent performances across the season. In two games against Boston College, No. 2 in the polls but No. 1 in the Pairwise, UConn has gone toe-to-toe and won the season series with four of six points. The Huskies also dropped a game to Holy Cross — one of two losses by a Hockey East team to an Atlantic Hockey team this season — got swept by Merrimack, who is just 5-10-1 on the season, and were shutout by Vermont at home.

UConn has a legitimate chance to make the NCAA Tournament with a good second half but it can’t afford many more — if any — bad losses.

Three up, three down

Up

Trey Scott: Scott entered the season ninth on a 10-man defensive depth chart and watched the first three games from the stands before finally getting his shot. Since then, he’s become a staple of the lineup and has quarterbacked the top power play unit. Scott’s two goals are most among defensemen so far.

Callum Tung: After missing the first 15 games of the season, Tung was somewhat of a mystery. The injury to Muszelik forced the freshman into the starting role and he’s since thrived, stopping 92 of 95 shots that have come his way. Tung looks like the type of goaltender that can steal a win on an off-night.

Viking Gustafsson Nyberg: A late pickup out of the transfer portal, Gustafsson Nyberg has been an ultra-steady defensive-defenseman. The 6-6 Swede knows exactly what his role is and never strays.

Down

Nick Carabin: Despite being regarded as one of the top defenseman in the portal, Carabin has struggled to make an impact with the Huskies. He has just one point so far and has made some back-breaking mistakes defensively.

Kaden Shahan: While he hasn’t been bad — far from it — he was billed as one of the top freshmen in the league and hasn’t lived up to that yet with four goals and two assists. Shahan is one of the biggest x-factors for the second half.

Filip Sitar: Though he had a rough start by being suspended for the first seven games, Sitar hasn’t done much since returning the lineup. Expected to be a top-nine center who plays a smart, 200-foot game, he’s instead been glued to the fourth line and only has two assists to his name.

Best goal

While not necessarily the best finish, it capped off 2:03 of continuously play in UConn’s offensive zone.

“[That] was one of the best shifts I've seen here since I've been at UConn,” Cavanaugh said.

Biggest remaining games

Dec. 29 vs. Wisconsin: Not only is this the likely championship matchup in the Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off, it could be a resume-builder for UConn. Wisconsin is up to 26th in the Pairwise and has been climbing. A win will probably look better and better as the season progresses.

Jan. 24 vs. Quinnipiac: UConn will take on Quinnipiac in the first round of Connecticut Ice after three straight years of battling in the championship. In all likelihood, the winner of this game will go on to claim the trophy. This could also be a chance for the Huskies to get a big win in the Pairwise with the Bobcats currently sitting at No. 17.

Jan. 10-11 vs. UNH: UConn and UNH have played some consequential games in the last two seasons. Back in 2022-23, the Wildcats ended the Huskies’ NCAA Tournament hopes with a sweep at the Whittemore Center. Last year, UConn returned the favor and knocked UNH out of contention. With both teams once again on the bubble — UNH is currently the last team in at No. 14 — this could be a deciding weekend.

Biggest potential landmines

If the Huskies lose any of these games, their NCAA Tournament hopes are likely dead.

Dec. 28 vs. Alaska Fairbanks: UConn returns from the winter break to take on Alaska Fairbanks in the Kwik Trip Holiday Classic in Milwaukee. The Nanooks are 37th in Pairwise, but did force overtime against then-No. 3 Minnesota. They won’t be a push-over but the Huskies have to get the win.

Jan. 25 vs. Sacred Heart/Yale: The CT Ice championship will likely take place in the first round between UConn and Quinnipiac. Yet regardless of what happens in that matchup, the Huskies will have to play either Sacred Heart (39th in Pairwise) or Yale (52nd) in the second contest.

Feb. 12 vs. Alaska Anchorage: Comfortably the worst team on UConn’s schedule, Alaska-Anchorage is just 4-12-3 and 56th in the Pairwise. The Huskies not only need to win, they should do so comfortably.