The University of Connecticut men’s ice hockey team dominated the University of Alaska Anchorage on Wednesday night at Toscano Family Ice Forum.
This was the fourth meeting in these two teams’ history. The last time these two faced off was two years ago, when the Huskies took a 4-3 victory at home. Wednesday’s win brings the all-time record to two apiece.
“It’s a big win for us as far as the NCAA tournament is concerned,” said head coach Mike Cavanaugh. “It was a win we needed to get, and we found a way to do it.”
UConn jumped out to an early lead in the first period. Fifth-year Hugh Larkin opened the scoring with a goal within the first two minutes on a chip shot in front of the net. UConn continued to apply pressure, outshooting the Seawolves by two in the period.
First-year Ethan Gardula extended their lead to two, fielding the puck beyond the faceoff circle and firing a rocket into the back of the net. This was Gardula’s fourth-straight game scoring, with three of those points being goals.
“We’ve really just been playing a lot harder, doing the simple stuff,” said Gardula. “I think I’m just the one getting rewarded right now.”
Second-year Joey Muldowney tacked on UConn’s third goal in the closing minutes of the period. The goal came shorthanded after a hooking penalty, marking the Huskies’ ninth of the season down a man, which currently leads the nation. Third-year netminder Tyler Muszelik made nine saves in the period to protect the Huskies’ commanding three-goal lead.
Alaska finally broke through early in the second period. Another hooking penalty on the Huskies gave the Seawolves the power play advantage. First-year Dimitry Kebreau snuck a shot past Muszelik, but after review, officials determined that fourth-year Maximilion Helgeson committed goalie interference, nullifying the goal.
Helgeson made up for his costly error at the very end of the power play. He nailed a goal on the far post off an assist from first-year Ryan Johnson from behind the net. Alaska scored again after Kebreau crossed the puck to second-year Joey Potter, cutting the deficit to one.
After a three-goal first period, the Huskies were blanked in period two. They had several opportunities to score before a boarding penalty on Alaska gave UConn their first power play of the game. They peppered the net with a man advantage but could not get back on the scoreboard.
UConn would not let another power play opportunity pass them by. A tripping penalty on the Seawolves gave them the man advantage at the beginning of the third period. Muldowney received the puck at the point and buried his second goal of the game. This was his fourth multiple-goal game of the season.
Alaska battled hard through the remainder of the third period. They nearly scored on the power play after a cross check by third-year Ryan Tattle. With 4:46 left to play, the desperate Seawolves pulled their goalie. Muldowney took advantage of the empty net, knocking in his third goal of the game for the hat trick, securing the 5-2 victory for the Huskies.
Muldowney is now just one goal away from the crown for most goals in a single season for a UConn player during the Hockey East era, with five games left to play in the regular season.
“It feels great, I like to help in any way I can,” said Muldowney. “I don’t really focus on that stuff; we just focus on winning as a team.”
UConn has a nine-day break coming up, one they surely need with several of the top teams in Hockey East coming up in their schedule. They currently stand fourth in the conference rankings.
The Huskies will be back in action on Feb. 21 as they take on the University of Maine, with the puck drop scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the Toscano Family Ice Forum.