UConn Men’s Hockey Game Ratings #16 vs. #20/15

GAME COVER

Matchup: No. 16 Providence College (8-6-4, 8-6-4 HEAM) vs. No. 20/15 UConn (8-7-2, 8-7-2 HEAM)
Puck drop: 4:30 p.m. (Friday) – Schneider Arena – Providence, RI
Television: NESN+ | Game by game: Mike Logan; Colour: Sonny Watrous

Stream: CollegeSportsLive.com (Outside New England) | NESN.com (Inside New England)

Radio: NewsRadio 104.7 FM | TuneIn Radio | Game by game: Mike Mancuso

Live statistics: Friars.com
Twitter: @Friarshockey

Faceoff: 4:00 p.m. (Saturday) – Freitas Ice Forum – Storrs, Conn.
Stream: CollegeSportsLive.com
Radio: NewsRadio 104.7 FM | TuneIn Radio | Game by game: Mike Logan

Live statistics: Friars.com
Twitter: @Friarshockey

Last outing

-Merrimack took an early 3:00 lead in regulation time, 1-0, with a power-play goal from Liam Walsh. It was only the sixth power-play goal Providence has allowed this season.

-The Warriors struck again for a 2-0 lead with a goal from Chase Gresock with 8:45 left in the first period.

-Liam Walsh scored his second goal of the night and the game-winning goal just 1:30 later to give Merrimack a 3-0 lead, which they held until the first intermission.

-The teams were scoreless in the second period and Merrimack held their three-goal lead until the second intermission. Stauber recorded six saves during the period.

-Merrimack’s Max Newton buried one in the third with 8:50 remaining in regulation time, but the goal was wiped out due to goalie interference.

–Jaxson Stauber was taken out of the net at 17:48 for the extra striker.

–Michael Callahan The third goal of the season put Providence on the board, 3-1, with 2:31 left in regulation. Callahan was assisted by Patrick Moynihan and Jason O’Neill on man-up goal.

-Jason O’Neil cut the deficit to 3-2 with just 55.8 seconds left in regulation, helped by Brett Berard and Ben Mirageas.

-Providence’s final push failed and Merrimack held onto their 3-2 lead at the buzzer.

-The Friars’ six-game unbeaten streak came to an end on Sunday.

Leaman records his 200th victory in Providence

– The head coach nate leaman recording his 200th victory in Providence last Saturday in Merrimack. Only Leaman and Lou Lamoriello (248) have reached the 200 win mark in program history. In 10 seasons at Providence, Leaman posted a 200-119-47 (.611) record.

Three current and future brothers drafted

Attackers Brett Berard and Hunt Yoder were both selected on Day 2 of the 2020 NHL Draft in October. Berard was selected by the New York Rangers in the fifth round (134th overall), while Yoder was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the sixth round (170th overall). Future brother Riley Duran was taken by the Boston Bruins in the sixth round (182nd overall).

Meet the new guys

Providence welcomed in an incoming class of seven for this season – four freshmen and three transfer student-athletes. The first year students are: Brett Berard, Nick Fish, Uula Ruikka and Hunt Yoder. Second year Jaxson Stauber is a transfer from Minnesota State, while Matt Tugnutt and Anton Martinsson are transfers from Sacred Heart and Alaska Fairbanks graduates, respectively.

Spread the points

Twenty-one different Brothers had at least one point last season. In 18 games in 2020-21, 20 players have recorded at least one point while 18 players have scored at least one goal.

Stauber supports the brothers

Since becoming eligible on December 13, Jaxson Stauber posted a 1.79 GAA and .930 save percentage in 16 games, stopping 383 of 412 shots.

Return of production

Providence ranked sixth in the nation with 84 goals that came back this season. The 82% return goals ranked fourth nationally. The Brothers also returned 76% of their points from last season, which also placed sixth.

youth movement

The Friars have the 10th youngest roster in the NCAA this season (average age of 21 years, 181 days). First-year student Brett Berard is the fifth-youngest player on an NCAA roster this year.

In search of seven

Providence holds the second-longest active NCAA appearance streak in the nation, having made its sixth consecutive tournament appearance in 2018-19. Denver leads the pack with 12 consecutive appearances.

Three is the magic number

The Brothers are 171-19-19 all-time under nate leaman by scoring three or more goals in a game.

After 40

The Brothers are 155-7-17 all-time under nate leaman when he held a two-period lead, with one of those seven losses on January 15 against Maine.

Third period momentum

The Friars outscored Merrimack by a 5-1 margin in the third period last weekend and are 25-15 (+10) overall this season in the third period.

Huskies Scouting

The Huskies’ three-game winning streak was snapped in a 3-2 overtime loss at UMass Lowell on Tuesday night. A trio of juniors are leading the way in scoring for UConn this season – Jonny Evans (12-10-22), Jachym Kondelik (0-16-16) and Carter Turnbull (8-4-12) lead the standings. In goal, Tomas Vomacka recorded every minute for the Huskies while posting a 2.55 GAA and .917 save percentage in 17 starts.

Series history against UConn (PC leads 11-3-3, .735)

Providence’s five-game unbeaten streak against UConn ended on December 28 of that season with a 2-0 loss at Storrs. Jonny Evans and Adam Karashik scored and Vomacka stopped all 37 shots he faced in the win. This weekend will mark the first time each team has been ranked in the polls going into a game.

For more updates on the Providence College Men’s Hockey Program, follow the team on Twitter @FriarsHockey.