The No. 17 University of Connecticut Huskies entered the weekend matchup against No. 12 Colorado College’s Tigers sitting at 1-1-0 on the season. These two faced each other last season, splitting the series out in Colorado Springs.
UConn jumped out to an early lead in game one, courtesy of Ethan Gardula netting the Huskies’ first goal in the opening four minutes. Charlie Morrison and Jeremy Loranger assisted the goal, but it would not be the last time Gardula took charge for the Huskies.
Just past the halfway point in the first quarter, the Tigers responded after Philippe Blais-Savoie evened the score at one apiece. The Tigers only had four shots in the opening period; the Huskies had 14.
With just under two minutes remaining in the opening period, the Huskies found the back of the net again, this time from Lirim Amidovski.
This gave UConn the lead heading into the first break. This was the freshman’s first collegiate goal and a crucial one for the Huskies, as they failed to score for the remainder of regulation.
The momentum in the second and third periods shifted Colorado’s way, netting a goal halfway through the second period by a shot from Seth Constance that deadlocked the score once again.
The Huskies were awarded two power-play opportunities late in the second period to break the tie, but the Tigers defended well. They allowed six shots on the first power play and then only two on the second. UConn also gave up two penalties throughout regulation — one in the first period and another in the third.
The third period continued the Tigers’ way, holding a 23-14 advantage in shot attempts, forcing Huskies’ goaltender Kam Hendrickson to make 11 saves. This included a power-play opportunity for the Tigers, but the Huskies defended well.
A final burst of shot attempts by the Huskies gave them some momentum in the closing minutes of regulation, forcing the game into overtime.
This momentum helped the Huskies into the overtime period in the three-on-three format. Kai Janviriya fired the puck up the ice to Alexandre Blais, skating to a two-on-one break for the Huskies and finding Gardula, who netted a backhand goal for his second of the night and the game-winner.
UConn ended the game with a 36-29 advantage in shots, along with blocking 20 shots. Hendrickson ended with 27 saves for UConn, while Colorado’s goaltender Jackson Unger concluded with 33 saves.
The following night, the two teams took the ice once again in a more physical matchup as the two combined for nine penalties.
UConn jumped out first on a power-play goal by Kaden Shahan in the opening eight minutes. The Huskies would hold the lead for just 21 seconds before Colorado’s Bret Link netted the opening goal for the Tigers.
Then around the halfway mark of the period, Kach Olsen extended the Tigers forward for their first lead of the weekend series. UConn held a 13-12 edge in shots on goal in the opening period but were only able to capitalize on that power-play goal.
The Tigers came out on the ice up 2-1 and wasted no time extending the lead in the second period. In the first two minutes, Tomas Mrsic and Fisher Scott assisted Conner Hvidston for his first goal of the game, putting the Tigers up 3-1. The Huskies, now down by two goals, were then forced to fend off two power plays and allowed just two shots between the two penalties.
Colorado controlled shots in the second period, combining for 30 compared to the Huskies’ nine. The Huskies goaltender Veeti Louhivaara played in this matchup and accumulated 13 saves in the second period.
The Huskies were then held scoreless in the third period despite three power-play opportunities. Tigers’ goaltender Jackson Unger finished the game with 31 saves, including 16 in the third period. Hvidston netted his second of the night in the opening seven minutes of the period. The score ended 4-1 in favor of the Tigers, evening the series at one game each.
The Huskies return to action on Thursday against No. 11 Boston University, hosting the Terriers on Thursday before traveling to Boston for the series’ second game.