Hockey East on a Friday Afternoon

Thanks to the Hockey Gods (and the NCAA schedule makers) I find myself ensconced in the loving embrace of the press box in Historic Matthews Arena on this fine autumn afternoon here in the Hub of Hockey. On the ice? It’s the beginning of the Hockey East campaign for both the Northeastern Huskies and the Providence College Friars. The squads came into this one with polar opposite results in the early going. PC dropped a pair to the Quinnipiac Bobcats while NU took 2 dubs off the RIT Tigers. But as we all know, records go out the window when it’s a Hockey East tilt; especially when it’s an afternoon puck drop.

The sides were fairly matched in the first half of the opening period with neither team having long offensive possessions. And when either team did get a sniff? Oh they just had to face  two of the top goalies in Hockey East from last season:  NU’s Lisa Jönsson and PC’s Hope Walinski. Both netminders had over a .920%SV last season as they led their respective squads to a Hockey East Quarterfinal matchup. 

The fans on hand were settling in to what might prove to be a goalie duel: until it wasn’t. Just past midway of the opening frame NU cashed in as Éloïse Caron broke the ice. Allie Lalonde carried the puck over the PC blue line before dishing to Morgan Jackson on the RW. Jackson found Caron cross-ice with a perfect pass onto her tape and Caron put it near side up high for the early lead.

That lead lasted roughly 2mins before Stryker Zablocki doubled it up. Lily Shannon drove the net down the LW and carried the puck to the goalmouth before getting denied. Zablocki followed Shannon to the blue paint and as the puck tumbled around Walinski’s pads, Zablocki struck (sorry I couldn’t resist). Even the freshmen know: Good things happen when you go to the net. Stick tap to Shannon for gathering up the puck from Zablocki’s first NCAA goal. 

That score held for the period as the sides retired with NU holding a 2 goal lead and a 13-6 shot advantage. In the opening minute of the 2^nd period, with the sounds of the intros still echoing in the old barn, NU added to their lead. Zablocki carried down the LW and fanned on the shot delayed before passing over to

Shannon on the doorstep and the captain tucked it home. Great awareness by Zablocki to stick with the play and make that backhand pass to Shannon. 

With just about 4mins left in the 2^nd, Jules Constantinople remembered that she has a cannon and knows how to aim it. With NU on the PP, the PC defender swing her own net looking to outlet up the LW wall. Constantinople read the play and dropped down the wall ahead of the PC forward and grabbed the pass. Constantinople took a few strides before going far-side post and in to notch her first goal of the season. Snipe City might have a new mayor.

The 3^rd saw a steady stream of players (from both sides) heading to their respective penalty boxes but the scoring was done for the day. The Huskies closed it out with the victory and helped earn the first shutout of the season for Jönsson. 

Some standouts from my vantage point:

• Audrey Knapp from PC was all over the ice and showed off her silky mitts a few times throughout this one.
• The OG Nailgun Lily Brazis from NU was dominant at the dot
• The Hockey East defending player of the year Reichen Kirchmair showed why she won that award with her play this afternoon.
• Riley Jones showed some more physicality along the wall for the Huskies and was barking out assignments on the back check

The Huskies host RPI tomorrow here at Matthews while the Friars welcome in the BC Eagles to Schneider Arena in Providence. 

Today was also the Skating Strides game to support the Ellie Fund. This non-profit provides essential support for breast cancer patients. You can give to the fund here: elliefund.org