Courtesy Vermont Sports Information
BURLINGTON– Anthony Petruzzelli scored the game-tying goal with 2:01 remaining in regulation to force overtime and Vermont earned a point with a 3-3 tie against Northeastern in Hockey East action at Gutterson Fieldhouse on Saturday night. The Catamounts pushed their record to 2-4-1 (1-0-1 HEA) and took three of four points from a home-and-home series, while the Huskies moved to 1-5-1 (0-1-1 HEA).
Vermont struck quickly in the first 40 seconds of the contest to open the scoring. Brendan Bradley made a move left to right onto his backhand at the left doorstep but lost the handle. Jarrid Privitera was waiting outside the crease to knock in the loose puck for his fourth goal in the last three games. Mario Puskarich picked up the second assist for his team-best seventh point.
Northeastern answered 10 minutes later as Nolan Stevens finished a centering pass from Kevin Roy on the power play. Roy pushed the puck into the low slot for Stevens, who collected and fired a high wrister to beat Mike Santaguida glove side. John Stevens added an assist on the goal which knotted the score at one.
The Catamounts wasted no time in the middle frame and Brady Shaw recaptured the lead with just 35 seconds elapsed. Shaw took a pass down the right wing boards from Kevin Irwin and wristed a low shot through the five hole of Derick Roy for a 2-1 UVM cushion.
Vermont carried the lead into the third but Northeastern struck twice in the first seven minutes of the frame to take its first lead. Adam Gaudette knotted the score at the 2:26 mark as he finished a quick centering pass from Zach Aston-Reese. Defenseman Matt Benning then one-timed a shot inside the left post at 6:51 and the Huskies led 3-2.
UVM picked up the pace in the closing minutes of regulation, and Alexx Privitera carried a quick entry into the offensive zone in the midst of the NU line change. Privitera turned and fired a pass into the right circle for Petruzzelli, who spun quickly and snuck a backhander under the pads of Roy to tie the game 3-3.
Privitera nearly set up game-winner in overtime, but Rob Hamilton’s first-time drive from the center point rung the right post and stayed out. Santaguida finished the night with 28 saves, while Roy stopped 22 shots at the other end.
Vermont continues a five-game homestand next weekend against seventh-ranked UMass Lowell with a two-game series on Friday, Nov. 6 and Saturday, Nov. 7 at 7:05 p.m. All the action will be streamed online for free at CatamounTV.com. Pre-game radio coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. on WVMT 620-AM and SportsJuice.com with Alastair Ingram on the call.
Tickets are still available for both Hockey East games next weekend. Tickets can be purchased online at UVMathletics.com/Tickets, in person at the UVM Athletic Ticket Office in Patrick Gym, or over the phone by calling 802-656-4410. The Gutterson Ticket Office opens at 6 p.m. prior to each game.