UConn mounts third period comeback to tie Colgate, 3-3

UConn men’s hockey erased a two-goal deficit in the third period to earn a 3-3 tie with the Colgate Raiders on Sunday. The two teams held an exhibition shootout after overtime concluded, which the Huskies won 2-0.

John Spetz gave UConn the lead on the first shift, but Colgate scored three unanswered goals and took that 3-1 advantage into the third period. Matthew Wood scored with eight minutes remaining to get the Huskies back within one, then Jake Richard tied the game with 1:55 left on his first collegiate goal.

In overtime, both teams had chances but neither put them away. Ethan Haider made multiple game-saving stops for the Huskies in the extra period as part of a 27-save day for the goalie.

UConn’s special teams had a rough day. The Huskies ended their two power play attempts early with their own penalties while the PK unit went 4-5 on the day.

UConn needed just 44 seconds to get on the board. During an extended stretch in the offensive zone, Jake Percival poked a loose puck out to Spetz, who clapped a one-timer into the back of the net.

It didn’t take long for Colgate to respond, though. On its first power play of the day, it worked the puck low and finished a rebound to even the game at 1-1. The hosts controlled the game from then on, but it took until the early in the second period to capitalize.

Just under three minutes in, the Huskies turned the puck over on the blue line, which allowed Ross Mitton to jump out on a breakaway. He beat Haider with a deke and gave the Raiders their first lead of the weekend.

Colgate went up two at the end of the second period when it entered the zone without pressure and found Nic Belpedio open in the slot, who sniped his shot past Haider for the score.

In the final period, UConn’s star stepped up to spark the comeback. Richard won a puck battle behind the net and dished it to Hudson Schandor, who gave it right back. From behind the net, Richard then threaded a pass along the back support of the goal to Wood and the sophomore didn’t let the opportunity go to waste. He banged a one-timer into the twine and pulled the Huskies back within one.

That gave UConn life and it picked up its play as the clock wound down. Then with just under two minutes left, Richard skated over the blue line and sniped a shot off the far post and in to even the score at 3-3.

In overtime, Haider stood on his head. First he denied a Colgate rush with a pad, gloved a shot with 30 seconds left, then turned away one last chance with his stick in the final moments. UConn had a few opportunities as well — none better than when Andrew Lucas tried to shovel a loose puck in front the front of the net — but couldn’t find a winner.

Ultimately, the game ended in a 3-3 tie.

In the exhibition shootout, Samu Salminen and Wood both scored for the Huskies while Haider denied the two attempts he faced. Ultimately, the game goes into the books as a tie, which means UConn finishes the first weekend unbeaten at 1-0-1.

Next, the Huskies will prepare for a home-and-home series with Holy Cross, beginning on the road on Friday, Oct. 13.