UConn mens hockey beat UMass in overtime 4-3

UConn mens hockey earned a much-needed victory Friday night at the Mullins Center, defeating the UMass Minutemen 4-3 in overtime. Chase Bradley scored a sudden-death point with 13 seconds left in overtime when he forced a move in the neutral zone, skated in and fired home the winner.

The win snaps a two-game losing streak for the Huskies and gives them their first Hockey East win since Nov. 29.

Along with Bradley, Hudson Schandor scored twice, while Jake Percival also found the back of the net. In goal, Arsenii Sergeev was stellar for UConn, stopping 34 of 37 shots, including a 14-save first period.

Both teams scored on the power play, but the Huskies won the special teams battle in overtime.

UConn found itself defending most of the first period. The Huskies struggled to defend the defensive zone, struggled to get through the neutral zone and couldn’t connect on passes in the offensive zone early. UMass out-shot UConn 15-4 through the opening 20 minutes.

The Huskies then went ahead against the play. On only the team’s second shot, Schandor buried the puck into the top of the net to give UConn a 1-0 lead.

However, that advantage would not last long. 1:14 later, UMass tied the game at 1-1 when Scott Morrow hit a layup from the point through traffic and past Sergeev.

The second set turned out to be more even. Shots were even and both teams created A-grade chances but were denied by the goalkeepers. The Huskies went back ahead with 6:31 left in the middle stanza when Percival collected a rebound from Ty Amonte and scored from a nearly impossible angle down the goal line.

UConn held a 2-1 lead in the second inning, but not without a push from the hosts. UMass limited the Huskies in the zone for almost the entire final 2.5 minutes and didn’t give the visitors a turnover, but couldn’t capitalize on it.

However, the minute men could only be held back for so long. Just a few minutes into the third period, Sergeev left a rebound right in front of the goal and Lucas Mercuri tapped it in to tie the game at 2-2.

They weren’t made either. On the first power play of the day for both sides, Morrow finished off a rebound in the back post to give UMass its first lead of the day, 3-2. The home team then went on two extra power plays but couldn’t do anything about them. In fact, Mercuri ended the second with a penalty of his own, giving UConn its only power play of the day.

The Huskies didn’t miss the opportunity, even though it had a total advantage of about a minute. Schandor buried the rebound for the second time of the night to tie the game with just over three minutes left. The score remained 3-3 through regulation and looked like it might even become a final in overtime.

Both sides had chances in overtime, but neither found the all-important game-winner. Then, in the final seconds, Bradley stole the puck in the neutral zone, skated in and scored with 13 ticks to go, sending UConn home happy.

The Huskies next complete a home-and-home with UMass on Saturday in Storrs. Puck drop time is 4:35 PM ET from the Toscano Family Ice Forum.