With short memory, UConn's special teams secure overtime win against Maine

Through 60 minutes of regulation on Friday night, UConn’s special teams were getting thrashed by Maine. But in overtime, the Huskies put that all behind them and scored a power play goal to take down the fourth-ranked Black Bears, 3-2.

“The hallmark of a great power play is it doesn't matter what you've done up to that point. If you get one after that, can you make it count? And we did to get a big two points there,” head coach Mike Cavanaugh said.

Prior to that, the man-advantage couldn’t generate anything, failing to put a shot on goal during their first try and ultimately racking up just three in as many total opportunities.

The penalty kill was even worse. The Black Bears needed just one shot and 29 seconds to convert on their power play. On the next, the visitors piled up seven shots and forced the Huskies into a mad scramble in front of net to keep the puck out. Maine eventually broke through anyways after just 40 seconds.

Those two power play goals allowed the visitors to tie the game, first at 1-1 then 2-2.

A major piece of UConn’s struggles? Face-offs. The Huskies won 19 and lost 33 in regulation, so they were constantly trying to get the puck back.

“Part of the reason was we weren't winning face-offs, so we had to go back and break pucks out,” head coach Mike Cavanaugh said about the power play.

“We weren't winning any draws so they had zone time,” he mentioned later about the penalty kill.

Special teams were the only time Maine could even get a foothold in the game. 5-on-5, UConn dominated. The Huskies hemmed the visitors in the zone for long stretches — including on their second goal. They owned the puck so much that the Black Bears couldn’t seize possession, they just wanted to clear it as soon as possible.

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