Saturdays are for the Dawgs

The Northeastern Huskies faced off against the Quinnipiac Bobcats this afternoon for the back half of their 2-game series. There was no need for extra hockey or a shootout today as the Huskies won this one running away 5-1 in a game that was closer than the final score reflected.

I want to apologize for the tardiness of this post as I had to make a stop at Rein’s Deli in Vernon on the way home. The boss of the House of Brownie placed a dinner order and I had to bring home pickles for some other families that are tuned into Rein’s (IYKYK). No free ads, but if you have a chance they are definitely worth the stop.

It was a rematch of the starting net minders from last night: Casey Clausen was in net for the Bobcats and Lisa Jönsson manned the pipes for the Huskies. Both goalies were tested early on but it was Northeastern that got on the board first.

With just over 2 mins played in the first, Éloïse Caron notched her first goal (and point, but ended the day 1-2-3 not a big deal) on a great individual effort. Caron forced a turnover at the Quinnipiac blue line and corralled the puck with her feet to her stick before sniping over Clausen’s blocker. Elo showed great focus on the puck to keep it moving forward before ripping it home.

That score held for about 2 mins before Stryker Zablocki got the game winner. Caron carried through the neutral zone and into the QU zone breaking in 2:3 with Zablocki driving. Caron moved laterally drawing a defender wide while Zablocki hit the gas for separation. A quick pass to Zablocki’s backhand was all she needed before snapping it over Clausen’s shoulder for the 2-goal lead.

Less than 5mins of game time and the game featured 2 goals and end to end action. Guess everyone had their coffees ahead of the matinee. Quinnipiac narrowed the lead on the power play when Avery Bairos tucked one past Jönsson. Alex Law put the puck on net from the LW circle and the rebound popped to Bairos on the doorstep. No panic in Bairos as she got her 2nd PPG of the young season.

Home team gets multiple camera angles.

It looked as if the 2-1 score would lead the teams into the first intermission but as every Pee Wee coach will tell you, you play to the final whistle. And clearly Ivana Wey didn’t hear no bell (or horn, but you get the idea). I wonder if Rocky IV was a big hit in Switzerland?

With less than 30 seconds left in the period, Caron broke down the slot with a defender draped all over her. The two went down in a heap behind the net but somehow Elo found the puck from her backside and found Wey in the slot. Say it with me: Good things happen when you go to the net. Wey buried the feed up under the bar and the teams head off the ice with the Huskies leading 3-1.

The middle frame opened with Quinnipiac on a big push trying to climb back into this one. Say what you want about the Bobcats today, but there was no quit in their game. Unfortunately for them, Jönsson was on her game and their attempts were turned away. With the 2-goal lead the Huskies were able to clog the neutral zone and keep the Bobcats to the perimeter which (based on the amount of stick work) was extremely frustrating for QU.

Just before midway of the 2nd, Allie Lalonde delivered the dagger on the backhand. Grace Sadura bunted the puck up the RW wall in the QU zone and found Lalonde at the bottom of the circle. Lalonde tossed a backhand short side over Clausen’s shoulder that squeezed through for Lalonde’s 2nd goal in as many games.

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Natalia Dilbone came in after Lalonde’s goal in relief of Clausen which has to be a tough spot. Down by 3, no warmup, in front of the alumni and you’re a freshman – easy peasy lemon squeezey am I right?. Dilbone shut the door for the remainder of the period and looked good. In the opening seconds of the 3rd, Zablocki came in on a breakaway but Dilbone denied the reigning Hockey East Player of the Week and looked smooth in doing so.

That 3 goal deficit followed the Bobcats into the 3rd period but as I said before there’s no quit in this team. The defensive pairs were shuffled as Aynsley D’Ottavio and Makayla Watson were out there together on a number of shifts. No shade to any other Bobcat defenders, but that pair would stack up with any other D pair in the NCAA’s. That’s a lot of firepower from the back end for sure

With about 5mins left to play, Quinnipiac pulled Dilbone in favor of an extra attacker (told you, no quit), but couldn’t cash in. The Huskies potted an empty netter courtesy of Morgan Jackson with about 2mins to play which made the final 5-1. Sorry Jackson, but ENGs get no videos.

The Huskies head out for a pair at RIT next weekend while the Bobcats head to Union on Friday and RPI on Saturday. It was a great weekend of hockey with a couple of top 10 powerhouses with NCAA tourney aspirations facing off.

Some thoughts from around the rink:

• Alex Law plays all gas no brakes. I really enjoyed her game today as she was again dominant at the dot and was flying around on the PK and forecheck. Amazing how much more I like her now that she’s not a Terrier. Speaking of success at the dot, the Bobcats were dominant winning 38 of 57 face-offs today. They were paced by Law (7 of 11) and Taylor Brueske (8 of 9).
• Grace Sadura ate a clapper up by 3 goals with less than 3 minutes to play once the Bobcats pulled their goalie. At the top of the NU zone she dropped to one knee and gave up the body to keep the puck out. That’s leadership.
• Is Éloïse Caron playing with a longer stick today (or this season)? Maybe I haven’t noticed it before but it looked longer. Maybe a new twig was what she needed to turn on the point spigot?
• Avery Barios not only scored the Bobcats lone goal, but she laid about 6 complete beauty passes that her teammates were unable to connect on. I’m talking just misses. Those click and this game is a heck of a lot tighter.
• Aynsley D’Ottavio played big minutes again against the Huskies top 6 and was physical along the walls. She also casually pulled a 360° behind her own net to create separation late in the 2nd and dusted 2 forecheckers to initiate a breakout. There was so much skill on display in that one little move.
• And lastly, congratulations to HC Dave Flint of Northeastern who notched win #400 behind the bench for the Huskies. Way to go coach!

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