NU sweeps Minutemen
On to next round for Huskies
Nolan Stevens scored two goals and Brandon Hawkins recorded three points as second-seeded Northeastern handled No. 8 UMass, 7-2, last night at Matthews Arena to sweep the Hockey East tournament quarterfinal series.
Northeastern (23-8-5) will face third-seeded Providence on Friday in the semifinals at the Garden.
“Our goals going into the season were to win the Beanpot and win the Hockey East championship. Now, we get ready to try to win our next goal,’’ said NU coach Jim Madigan. “I think Providence will be the favorite considering they took 3-of-4 points from us. But, it’s hard in this league to get to the Garden.’’
The loss brought an end to an impressive UMass season. The Minutemen, who won just five games a year ago, finished 17-20-2 this season, including winning a HE quarterfinal series against No. 9 Vermont.
“The second period it got away form us. Ultimately, we wanted to control the big line but it’s hard to do,’’ said UMass coach Greg Carvel. “But, I’m very proud of my team. I’m very excited about the future of the program. This was a huge challenge for us. I think the scoring chances we gave up were of too high-quality. We hung (Ryan Wischow) out to dry a couple of times.”
UMass, which fell, 3-2, in Game 1, came out like a buzz-saw, taking the attack to the vaunted Huskies. The Minutemen won puck battles in all three zones yet came out of the opening frame trailing 2-0
UMass applied pressure and had an early 6-2 edge in shots when NU transitioned down ice and took a 1-0 lead. Center Biagio Lelario curled in the right corner and fed the puck to pinching defenseman Jeremy Davies in the circle. The sophomore cut to the goalmouth and slipped the puck underneath Wischow (14 saves).
NU freshman Cayden Primeau (28 saves) made a clutch stop with the left leg pad on UMass forward John Leonard at the 13:15 mark.
The stanza was drawing to a close when NU struck again. Junior left winger Lincoln Griffin (goal, assist) of Walpole made a brilliant effort from his knees by sliding the puck out front after swinging the net. The puck landed on the stick of NU’s Stevens, who had time and space on the doorstep to convert his 22nd goal.
NU broke it open with four goals in the second period. Beanpot MVP Adam Gaudette of Braintree cleverly stick-handled into the UMass zone. The puck went to Ryan Shea, who passed to senior Garrett Cecere. The defenseman spotted Gaudette deep in the left circle and the center sent a one-timer into the back of the net at 3:21. It was the 30th goal of the season for Gaudette, making him the 11th player in program history to hit that mark.
The teams were skating 4-on-4 when senior right winger Dylan Sikura picked the pocket of a UMass player in the neutral zone. Sikura turned on the jets and raced in before rifling a wrist shot home for an unassisted marker at 10:47. It was Sikura’s 20th goal, his second straight season recahing that figure.
The margin widened at 12:37 when Hawkins finished a two-on-none with his fifth goal. NU was on the power play when Davies passed to Stevens in the low slot and the left winger potted his second of the game and 24th at 18:56.
UMass kept clawing and eventually ended Primeau’s shutout hopes when Leonard coralled a loose puck in front and knocked it home at 4:15 of the third.
NU answered when Griffin fired a 25-foot wrist shot home at 8:32 before the Minuetmen responded at 16:50 on a shot by left winger Brett Boeing.