This week in Hockey East featured shootouts, overtime drama and key conference swings.
Hockey East delivered one of its most dramatic weekends of the season, featuring two Friday shootouts, multiple overtime matchups and several statement wins that reshaped positioning in the standings.
Friday: Extra points and offensive surges
Friday night opened with immediate drama in Orono, where Maine and Vermont skated to a 2-2 overtime tie before the Catamounts claimed the extra point in a three-round shootout.
Lila Shea opened the scoring for Maine in the first period, finishing a setup from Lulu Rucinski and Darragh Browne. Vermont responded in the second with goals from Oona Havana and a power-play tally by Rose-Marie Brochu. Isabelle Michaud tied the game at 16:38 of the second period, assisted by Mackenzie Podewell and Jaidyn Britt.
Neither team broke through in overtime. In the shootout, Morgann Skoda and Lila Pannacciulli scored for Vermont, while Stephanie Jacob recorded Maine’s lone goal in the skills competition.
Merrimack and Holy Cross also needed a shootout to decide the extra conference point after skating to a 1-1 overtime tie. Avery Anderson gave Merrimack a late first-period lead before Alexia Moreau equalized in the second. Maria Lindberg and McKenzie Cerrato converted in the shootout to secure the bonus point for the Warriors.
UConn delivered one of the weekend’s strongest performances with a 5-1 road win over New Hampshire. Ashley Allard scored just 1:12 into the game, Livvy Dewar added a power-play goal and Sadie Hotles recorded two goals as the Huskies controlled play from start to finish.
Northeastern earned a 5-2 win at Boston University behind goals from Allie Lalonde, Mia Langlois, Lily Brazis and Jules Constantinople. Providence capped Friday’s action with a 2-1 overtime win at Boston College, where Reichen Kirchmair netted the power-play game-winner 3:43 into overtime.
Saturday: Defensive battles and season sweeps
Saturday’s slate featured defensive performances and momentum swings.
New Hampshire shut out Maine 3-0 in Orono after a scoreless first 40 minutes. Callista Printz recorded her first goal of the season early in the third period, Nina Rossi added a short-handed goal and Addison Spitz sealed the win with an empty-net tally as the Wildcats outshot Maine 38-31.
Providence continued its strong weekend with a 3-2 win over Holy Cross. Jessie Pellerin scored twice for the Friars, including the third-period game-winner. Anna Billa tallied both goals for Holy Cross, including a late power-play goal with the extra attacker.
UConn followed its Friday victory with a 2-0 shutout at Boston University. Emma Eryou broke the scoreless tie midway through the second period, and Christina Walker added an empty-net goal as the Huskies limited BU to just 11 shots on net.
Sunday: Overtime finish and road upset
Sunday closed the weekend with two tightly contested games.
Merrimack earned a 3-2 road win over Vermont. Stina Sandberg opened the scoring in the first period before Madison Vittands scored twice late in the second to give the Warriors a two-goal cushion. Rose-Marie Brochu scored twice for Vermont, but the Catamounts were unable to complete the comeback despite outshooting Merrimack 42-19.
In Waltham, Massachusetts, Boston College stunned Northeastern with a 1-0 overtime victory. After a scoreless regulation in which Northeastern outshot BC 38-32, Ava Thomas netted the power-play winner 2:50 into overtime. Grace Campbell made 38 saves in the shutout performance as the Eagles handed the Huskies a key conference loss.
Players of the Weekend
Sadie Hotles – UConn
Two goals in Friday’s 5-1 win over UNH and part of a dominant Huskies weekend sweep. UConn outscored opponents 7-1 across two games.
Jessie Pellerin – Providence
Three goals in two games, including two on Saturday in a 3-2 win over Holy Cross. Providence picked up four critical conference points.
Madison Vittands – Merrimack
Scored twice in Sunday’s 3-2 road win over Vermont, including back-to-back second-period goals that shifted momentum.
Grace Campbell – Boston College
38-save shutout in Sunday’s 1-0 overtime win over Northeastern. Huge performance in a high-shot game against one of the conference’s top teams.
Rose-Marie Brochu – Vermont
Three total goals on the weekend, including two on Sunday in Vermont’s narrow loss to Merrimack.
Weekend Results
Friday, Feb. 13
Vermont at Maine, 2-2 (OT) Catamounts win shootout
Holy Cross at Merrimack, 1-1 (OT) Warriors wins shootout
UConn at New Hampshire, 5-1
Northeastern at Boston University, 5-2
Providence at Boston College, 2-1 (OT)
Saturday, Feb. 14
New Hampshire at Maine, 3-0
Holy Cross at Providence, 2-3
UConn at Boston University, 2-0
Sunday, Feb. 15
Merrimack at Vermont, 3-2
Boston College at Northeastern, 1-0