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Dennehy Postgame Comments
HARTFORD, Conn. – The Merrimack College men's ice hockey team rallied from a goal down with 90 seconds to play to send it to overtime before winning it in the extra session, 3-2, against the University of Connecticut on Friday night at the XL Center. The Warriors round out their two-game, two-opponent road weekend at No. 11 Providence tomorrow night at 7 p.m.
The Basics
Score: Merrimack 3, Connecticut 2 (F/OT)
Records: Merrimack (6-10-4, 3-6-2 HEA) | Connecticut (8-14-2, 5-9-1 HEA)
Location: XL Center | Hartford, Conn.
Game Duration: 2:15
Rapid Recap
- Merrimack and UConn played to a scoreless first period, with both sides combining for 19 shots on target (10-9 in favor of the Huskies). Both junior Craig Pantano and counterpart Adam Huska were perfect in net during the frame to keep it deadlocked at 0-0 entering the second.
- UConn took the lead near the midpoint of the second period while on the power play and doubled up the Warriors in shots on goal (12-6), and that stood as the only score in the middle frame to give the Huskies a 1-0 edge after 40 minutes. Merrimack had a pair of power plays in the second stanza but could not capitalize on either.
- After only seeing one goal in the first 40 minutes of the contest, each side lit the lamp 30 seconds apart at the start of the third. First it was Merrimack senior Marc Biega who drew the game even at 1-1 at the 2:52 mark, but a turnover allowed the Huskies to retake the lead at 3:22, with both goals coming in 4-on-4 situations. But, as the script has gone for the two schools, late dramatics would ensue, as senior Jace Hennig drew the Warriors level yet again with 1:21 to play to send the game to overtime.
- Merrimack needed only 13 seconds to win it off the ensuing rush of the extra session, as sophomore Sami Tavernier buried a rebound to give the Warriors their first overtime win of the year.
Scoring Summaries
- Goal #1 (UC, 0-1): UConn's Benjamin Freeman put the Huskies ahead 8:52 into the second period while on the power play. Joseph Masonius thread a long pass from the UConn blue line through the defense and up to Freeman at the Merrimack blue line. He got in alone and beat Pantano with a wrist shot from the slot glove side to his left.
- Goal #2 (MC, 1-1): Biega tied the game thanks to his third marker of the year just 2:52 into the final frame. With both sides skating four aside hockey, classmate Jace Hennig (Port Moody, British Columbia) kept the puck in at the blue line and dished to Biega, who had some space and skated in from the far circle, went through the crease and tucked a backhander by Huska at the back post to level the ledger.
- Goal #3 (UC, 1-2): UConn quickly regained the lead 30 seconds later after Maxim Letunov capitalized on a turnover and lit the lamp for his sixth of the year. The UConn junior took the puck away from a Merrimack skater down low and tucked it by Pantano on a wraparound from the blocker side post.
- Goal #4 (MC, 2-2): Hennig drew the Warriors even with just 1:21 to play, pushing home a loose puck at the blocker side post for his sixth of the season.
- Goal #5 (MC, 3-2): Tavernier capped off the dramatic comeback just 13 seconds into overtime, as his seventh of the year gave the Warriors the win. Right off the first faceoff the extra session, senior Brett Seney found Biega, who threw a shot toward the net drew which rebounded back up to the far circle. Tavernier was there for the rebound and put it home to give the Warriors the win.
Notes and Notables
- Merrimack picked up its first win against UConn since Oct. 18, 2014 at Lawler Rink, which also came in overtime and also required a late equalizer. The Warriors improved to 25-3-5 all-time against UConn, snapping a stretch of four straight ties, although it has now been five straight games that the trailing team sent the game to overtime with an equalizer in the final 90 seconds of regulation.
- Merrimack improved to 6-0-2 when scoring three-plus goals in a game compared to 0-10-2 when being held to fewer than three goals. They also rallied for their first win when trailing after two periods since last February against Maine. Merrimack had been 0-8-1 when trailing after two periods prior to tonight.
- Goaltenders: Craig Pantano (25 saves, 6-5-2) // Adam Huska (24 saves, 8-14-2)
- Power Plays: Merrimack (0-3) | Connecticut (1-1)
- Shots on Goal: 9-10 // 6-12 // 10-5 // 2-0 -- 27-27
Merrimack Lineup
Hennig | Seney | Irvine
Petti | L. Larsson | McBride
Babcock | Drevitch | Tavernier
Coomes | A. Larsson | McKay
Kolquist | Cook
Dockery | Kovacevic
Biega | Carle
Pantano
Vogler
Halladay
UConn Flash Sale Announced!
ATTENTION FANS! Make sure you're in attendance next Friday at Lawler Rink to watch Merrimack and UConn conclude their season series!
Use the promotional code gopats12 (not case sensitive) and enjoy $10 off admission (all tickets)!
NOTE: This flash sale/promotional code is valid until next Thursday (Jan. 11) at 11:59 p.m.
Click here to buy online or call the Box Office at 978-837-5324 during business hours. For more information, head to
MerrimackAthletics.com/Tickets.
Up Next
Merrimack concludes its two-game road trip with a Saturday night matchup at 11
th-ranked Providence tomorrow night. Puck drop from Schneider Arena is 7 p.m.
