Northeastern-UMass: Huskies Blank Minutemen

“Cause I'm back, yes I'm back well, I'm back
Yes, I'm back well, I'm back, back
Well, back in black yes, I'm back in black”

-Back in Black, AC DC

That’s what was heard through the speakers at Matthew’s Arena Friday night, as the Northeastern men’s hockey team took to the ice in black jerseys to play the University of Massachusetts at Amherst Minutemen.

Northeastern managed to snap its four game winless streak Friday night with a 1-0 win over the UMass Amherst Minutemen.

The only goal of the game came in the second period on a power-play just 1:30 in.  An attempted clear was intercepted by Wade MacCleod, his shot was stopped, but Randy Guzior 'baseballed' the puck out of the air and into the net for his team-leading ninth goal.

For scoring the game winner, his second of the season, Guzior was named the second star of the game.

Brad Thiessen was named the player of the game earning is second shutout of the season while making 22 saves.

For the Minutemen, Paul Dainton made 23 saves, but couldn’t get any help from his offense. He was named the third star of the game for his efforts in net.

Joe Vitale played a great game for the Huskies. Every second of every shift, Vitale looked like a man on a mission. Throwing his body, winning the puck, taking the body — this is the kind of play the captain needs to bring every night for the rest of the squad to muster around and finish of the season strong.

Defensively, the Huskies played very strong, preventing UMass from creating quality scoring chances. When the Minutemen did look as though they were going to score, Thiessen was there for the save and the defense was there to clear any rebound.

In the third period, it seemed as though UMass was going to net the equalizer with both Joe Vitale and Wade MacCleod in the penalty box.

The Husky penalty kill couldn’t have been better though. UMass failed to register a shot on the 41 second two-man advantage and could only put one shot on goal after Vitale’s penalty expired.

Inside the final minute of play, Drew Muench took a penalty, and with Dainton on the bench, a six on four power-play for the final 30 seconds of the game.

Again the Husky penalty kill was up to the challenge. The final seconds ticked off the clock and another UMass power-play ended without a single shot on goal.

In the first period, the Huskies had a goal waved off; Ryan Ginand caught the puck in the crease behind Dainton. He put the puck down and pushed it with his stick over the goal line.

After reviewing the goal, it was determined that the puck crossed the line before Ginand’s stick made contact with it.

With the win, the Huskies improve to 9-7-2 in Hockey East play and 12-8-3 overall.  Northeastern’s 20 points are good for fourth place in the Hockey East standings.  Nationally, the Huskies remain at 14^th while UMass falls to 18^th. 

Tonight, the Huskies will travel to the TD Banknorth Garden where they will open up the 56^th Annual Beanpot against Harvard.  Husky fans hope that they can ride this victory onto the ice sheet at the Garden and open up the 2008 Beanpot with a victory.