STORRS, Conn. – Connecticut’s Jason Krispel capped off a three-goal run with the game-winner just 42 seconds into overtime, lifting the Huskies to a 3-2 victory over the Mercyhurst College men’s hockey team on Saturday evening at the Frietas Ice Forum. With the loss, the Lakers close out the regular season 15-18-3 and 15-10-3 in Atlantic Hockey play, while the Huskies move to 6-25-3 and 6-19-3 in AHA action.
Connecticut overcame a 2-0 deficit with back-to-back goals in the third period before securing its first win over Mercyhurst since Jan. 19, 2008 in overtime. Chris Waterstadt got the Huskies on the board when he lit the lamp on a 5-on-4 power play at 5:25. Krispel then evened the slate with his first of the night on an extra-attacker opportunity at 19:35.
The Lakers controlled the pace of the game through the first two periods, outshooting Connecticut, 19-15, while building a 2-0 lead on goals eight minutes and five seconds apart in the second.
Junior
Steve Cameron put the Lakers up 1-0 on a goal setup by juniors
Jesse Echternach and
Jeff Terminesi at 10:45. Junior
Mike Gurtler then made it a 2-0 game, beating Connecticut netminder Jeff Larson at the 18:50 mark. Freshman
Charlie Carkin and senior
Chris Risi earned assists on the play.
The Lakers finished the game with a 29-26 edge in shots and went 0-for-2 on the power play. Connecticut converted 1-for-5 with the extra man. Junior
Ryan Zapolski suffered the loss with 23 stops and two even-strength goals allowed.
With the regular season in the books, the Lakers will have next weekend off before taking on an opponent to be determined in the Atlantic Hockey Quarterfinals, beginning on Friday, March 12 at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. The AHA Quarterfinals are a best-of-three series, with the winner advancing to the semifinals at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, N.Y.