ECH Weekend Review: November 10-12
written By Alex Berger - November 16th, 2023The chaos in college hockey is back. #1 Boston College and #3 Denver both lost this past weekend, shuffling up the top ten of the rankings. Elsewhere in the country, Everything College Hockey was on-scene at Lynah for one of the biggest rivalries in the game, Michigan and Minnesota faced off for the 100th anniversary of Yost Arena, and #4 North Dakota kicked off NCHC play against Minnesota-Duluth.
Another top storyline is 17-year-old Macklin Celebrini tying the NCAA lead in points six weeks into the season. What's even more impressive for the projected #1 overall pick is that he's the only freshmen in the top-five, and that he leads the country in points per game (2.0/game). Celebrini is by far the most searched for player on EliteProspects.com, and is already in a push for this year's Hobey Baker Award.
Heading into this week, #1 Wisconsin will get to defend their top ranking for the first time this season. They'll head on the road for a huge series against #9 Michigan State, one of two top-ten matchups this weekend (#7 Boston University hosts #10 Maine). Let's recap everything you need to know from this past week of college hockey action.
Photo: @TonysBeard9120 on Twitter
- #14 Maine Upsets #1 Boston College at Alfond
A week after sweeping Hockey East rival Merrimack on the road, the Maine Black Bears returned to Alfond for a series matchup against Boston College. Black Bears' fans showed up and showed out, with back-to-back sellouts against the #1 team in the country. The top-15 matchup started off fairly even, with each team posting 12 shots and staying out of the penalty box in the first period. Maine struck first, with a goal from senior forward Lynden Breen 4:26 into the second period. Breen finished off the goal in close with assists from brothers Bradly and Josh Nadeau. The Maine fans would only cheer with the lead for so long, as Boston College got a chance with the man advantage just 40 seconds later. Eagles' forward Jack Malone finished off a tic-tac-toe play from Gabe Perrault and Cutter Gauthier to tie the game at 1-1.
Despite two chances on the power play of their own, the Black Bears couldn't take back the lead in the second period. That would have to wait until the third period. 27 seconds after the end of a power play, senior Donavan Villeneuve-Houle collected a puck right off the draw and fired it past Boston College goaltender Jacob Fowler to give Maine the 2-1 lead. Two minutes later, Breen and the Nadeau brothers teamed up for their second goal of the night, as Bradly finished off a 2-on-1 with a one-timer above Fowler's blocker. The Eagles would get back into the game with a goal from freshmen trio Ryan Leonard (his fourth of the year), Gabe Perrault, and Will Smith, but it was the Black Bears' night. Sophomore forward Grayson Arnott scored an empty-net goal from 175 feet away to ice the game at 4-2 and finish the upset over the country's top team.
With high-end talent on display on Friday night, Maine would turn up the physicality on Saturday. They held Boston College to just eight shots on goal in the first period and scored a greasy goal late to take a 1-0 lead. After a dump into the offensive zone the Black Bears turned up the forecheck and won the puck behind the net. After throwing the puck out in front of the net, Felix Trudeau found the loose puck and sent it past Fowler to score his first goal of the season. Boston College would once again respond to going down 1-0, and tied the game early in the second.
Despite four power play chances for each team in the game, only one goal was scored. That came from Maine with eight minutes to go in the third period to take a 2-1 lead. With time winding down, it looked like the Black Bears were on their way to a series sweep. But with just 4:34 left in the game Ryan Leonard, Will Smith, and Gabe Perrault would strike again. After a broken play, the puck made it's way onto the stick of Ryan Leonard with a wide open net. Leonard tied the game at 2-2 with his second goal and third point of the weekend. In total the freshmen combined for three goals and six assists in the two game series, and tallied at least one point on each of the Eagles' four goals. Perrault (2 goals - 13 assists - 15 points), Smith (5-9-14), and Leonard (5-5-10) are three of the top four scorers on Boston College so far this season.
The game would remain tied through the end of the third period and through overtime. The shootout would last eight total rounds, with Lukas Gustafsson being the hero. With the extra point on the line the sophomore defenseman skated down the left-wing boards, made ten dekes, and roofed the puck on the backhand past the sprawling Victor Ostman for the shootout win.
- #3 Denver, #18 Arizona State Combine For 23 Total Goals in Series Split
In the second major upset on Friday night, Denver took on future NCHC conference opponent Arizona State at Mullet Arena in Tempe. It was a penalty-filled affair during game one with a combined eight penalties, three power play goals, two shorthanded goals (both from Denver's Carter King), and a three-on-three goal. Arizona State's Dylan Jackson led the way with three goals, his second career hat trick and first with the Sun Devils. Dylan's brother Ty Jackson and Lukas Sillanger matched the senior with three points of their own.
The two teams matched goals in each period and were tied 1-1, 3-3, and 5-5 after the first, second, and third period respectively. Despite outshooting ASU 40-25 and outdrawing them 35-28, Denver couldn't quite pull away. Arizona State captain Tyler Gratton made them pay in overtime. The graduate senior joined in late on a three-on-two rush, got a pass at the top of the slot, and fired a puck straight past Freddie Halyk for the overtime 6-5 upset win.
Denver, the nation's top offense through 10 games (5.2 goals/game), came back hot on Saturday night. They scored eight goals in an exciting three-goal comeback win, including two power play goals from junior Jack Devine late in the second period. Devine leads the country in goals (10) and is in a four-way tie for the nation lead in points (18). One of those four is junior Massimo Rizzo, who only posted one assist in the two-game series. The Pioneer with the biggest weekend was second-line center Carter King. The senior and Everything College Hockey Forward of the Week posted three goals, three assists, and went 27-16 on faceoffs.
Despite scoring 13 goals in the series, Denver needed to come back from three goals down and score two empty-net goals to salvage the series split with an 8-4 win on Saturday night. Despite boasting the country's best offense, they have the T-51st worst save percentage among goaltenders. In life without Magnus Chrona, neither junior Matt Davis or freshman Freddie Halyk are putting up great numbers. If it weren't for great puck possession numbers (55.9% Corsi For, 8th best in NCAA) the Pioneers would be giving up way more goals. After giving up 10 goals this weekend they'll have two weeks to figure out the defense/goaltending against Omaha and Yale before a home matchup against #2 North Dakota.
- #6 Minnesota, #11 Michigan Split at Yost
After a stretch of just one win in five games, including getting swept at home by Wisconsin, the Minnesota Golden Gophers traveled to Yost for just their third and fourth games of the early Big Ten conference season. The matchup of two preseason top-four teams was one of the marquee college hockey tilts of the weekend; and also celebrated the 100th anniversary of Yost Arena, one of the best venues in the country.
Michigan scored just 97 seconds into the centennial celebration, as sophomore forward Frank Nazar III pounced on a rebound from the point which trickled past Justen Close to give the Wolverines an early lead. But the Gophers bounced back quickly, scoring just under two minutes later on a goal in close from Bryce Brodzinski. After an even first period on the scoreboard and the shot sheet, Michigan took control in the second. With the Gophers in penalty trouble early in the period, the Wolverines got two power play goals from Dylan Duke and Rutger McGroarty in a four-minute stretch to take a 3-1 lead midway through the second. With time winding down in the period, forward Jimmy Clark made an incredible play through the neutral zone, drove to the net, collected his own rebound, and beat Wolverines' goaltender Jake Barczewski on a backhand with under a second to go until the intermission. It was a huge moment for the freshman, who made it a one-goal game heading into the third period.
The Gophers capitalized on the momentum, as Clark found another rebound nine minutes into the third to score his second of the night to tie the game. Despite being outshot in the final period, the Gophers would find the game-winner with just over three minutes to go in the game. With yet another goal in close of Barczewski, Brody Lamb found a loose puck and fired it home for a 4-3 win. Minnesota was outshot in every period, but graduate senior Justen Close posted a season-high 37 saves in the road win.
On Saturday night, Michigan once again grabbed the lead in the first period, finishing off a furious rally against the Gophers. After six shots in a 30-second span, Nick Moldenhauer scored off an excellent seam pass from Seamus Casey to send coach Jim Harbaugh, the Michigan football team, and the rest of Yost Arena into a frenzy. After going down early again, Minnesota flipped the switch in the second with a 20-shot peppering on Barczewski. The Gophers found an equalizer late in the period, as Brody Lamb labeled a shot from the high-slot into the top corner to score on the power play. Just 70 seconds later Minnesota went down a man with a high-sticking minor, and the Wolverines made them pay. Nazar III scored his second goal of the weekend to finish off a fantastic passing play with a snipe above Close's right shoulder. Michigan would hold that lead until late in the third period, but the Golden Gophers once again found a clutch goal in close. Sophomore star Jimmy Snuggerud was left in front of the net five-on-five, and capitalized on his second of two rebound chances. Despite the high-end talent during 3-on-3 overtime, the game remained tied throughout. With both Barczewski and Close making 37 saves each during the game, the Michigan goaltender would win the Saturday night duel. Barczewski stopped all three shootout attempts to secure the extra point in the Big Ten standings.
Although it wasn't technically a win, the shootout victory over Minnesota should be a huge momentum boost ahead of a tough three-week stretch to close out the first half of the season. Michigan hosts Penn State at Yost this weekend, before traveling on the road to #17 St. Cloud State and Notre Dame.
- 'College Hockey Gameday' at Lynah For Cornell vs. Harvard
For the third time this season, Everything College Hockey headed out of the studio for 'College Hockey Gameday.' This past weekend we were on the east coast, checking out one of the best rivalries in college hockey. More than 4,300 people were in Lynah Arena on Saturday night for the first matchup of the season between Cornell and Harvard. For an undefeated Big Red squad coming off a shoutout win over Dartmouth on Friday night, it was an electric atmosphere at Lynah from the drop of the puck. On the other hand, Harvard was coming into the game searching for their first win of the season, registering three ties in their first four games of the season.
The Crimson must have fed off the energy of the rivalry matchup, as Harvard forward Joe Miller scored exactly a minute into the game to take a 1-0 lead. The sophomore grabbed a turnover at the top of the offensive zone, skated around a defender, and fired a puck top shelf to silence the crowd early. Later in the period the teams would trade goals, with tallies from Cornell's Luke Devlin and Harvard's Alex Gaffney coming just under three minutes apart. Gaffney's power play goal would be the final goal of the period, and the Crimson took a 2-1 lead heading into the intermission.
After giving up a power play goal late in the first, Cornell responded big on the penalty kill in the second period, going 3-for-3 on the kill over the next 20 minutes to keep it a one-goal game. That momentum carried over early into the third, when freshman forward Jake Kraft scored his first career goal just under two minutes in to tie the game at 2-2. Despite outshooting Harvard in the third period, having momentum from the game-tying goal, and going 3-for-4 on the penalty kill until that point, the Crimson would score and retake the lead on the power play just five minutes later. Alex Gaffney scored his second power play goal of the night in a scramble in front of the net, the eventual game winner.
Cornell goaltender Ian Shane made just 13 saves on 16 total in his first loss of the season. Although two of those goals were on the penalty kill, it was an off night for one of the best goaltenders in college hockey. For Harvard, it was important to make those grade-a scoring opportunities count. They head into a big home weekend against Massachusetts and Boston College on a big win over their biggest rival.
- #4 North Dakota Opens NCHC Play With Sweep Over #15 Minnesota-Duluth
It was the second-straight week of rivalry games for Minnesota-Duluth this past weekend, as they welcomed in North Dakota for a weekend series that marked the start of conference play for both NCHC teams. After a tough opening schedule which saw a road sweep to Cornell, a road loss to Minnesota, and ties to Michigan Tech, Northern Michigan, and Minnesota, the Bulldogs were primed for a big get-right weekend against one of the country's best teams.
North Dakota, on the other hand, came into the weekend following a road trip split against Boston University. They took the momentum from last Saturday's overtime win against the Terriers to come out hot in the first period on Friday night. The Fighting Hawks outshot the Bulldogs 12-7 in the opening frame, and got three goals in a nine-minute span to take an early 3-0 lead. Freshman Jayden Perron opened the scoring on a one-timer all alone in the low slot, his fifth goal in the first nine games of his career.
After a dominating first 20 minutes, Minnesota-Duluth needed a big response to get back into the game. Despite getting outshot again 16-8 the Bulldogs got the only goal of the second period, a great deflection by Luke Loheit on the power play to make it 3-1. Despite a handful of power play chances for both teams, it would remain a two-goal game until late in the third period. After a perfect deflection off a shot block, Duluth freshman Anthony Menghini fired a puck into the wide open net to make it a 3-2 game. With time winding down in the game, Minnesota-Duluth pressed for a tying goal but took a tripping penalty with 90 seconds left. Transfer center Cameron Berg made them pay, capitalizing on a turnover in the Bulldogs' zone with a power play snipe just under the bar with just 39 seconds to go in the game.
It was a goaltender battle in game two of the series, with North Dakota's Ludvig Persson and Duluth's Matthew Thiessen going head-to-head. The Bulldog goalie flashed early, making a fantastic diving save on a 2-on-1 just minutes into the game. On the other end of the ice, Minnesota-Duluth peppered Persson with 15 shots in the first 20 minutes, but the former Miami RedHawks made 15 saves to keep the Bulldogs off the scoreboard. North Dakota took momentum from their goalie and got a power play goal by Louis Jamernik V, his second of the weekend, to take a 1-0 lead heading into the first intermission. Then just three minutes into the second, NoDak captain Riese Gaber buried a highlight reel pass from Jackson Blake to make it 2-0. After that point, it was all Fighting Hawks. Despite a late push from Minnesota-Duluth (including a shot that hit the post midway through the third), Ludvig Persson made 30 saves to secure the road sweep with his second shutout of the season.
- NCHC Standings
1. St. Cloud State (12 Points): Swept Western Michigan on the road with 3-2, 3-0 wins
T-2. Colorado College (6 Points): Swept Miami on the road with 5-1, 4-1 wins
T-2. Denver (6 Points): Split with Arizona State on the road with 6-5 OT loss, 8-4 win
T-2. North Dakota (6 Points): Swept Minnesota-Duluth on the road with 4-2, 2-0 wins
5. Western Michigan (4 Points): Swept by St. Cloud State at home with 3-2, 2-0 losses
6. Omaha (2 Points): Swept Long Island at home with 3-2, 5-4 OT wins
T-7. Miami (0 Points): Swept by Colorado College at home with 5-1, 4-1 losses
T-7. Minnesota-Duluth (0 Points): Swept by North Dakota at home with 4-2, 2-0 losses
- Big Ten Standings
1. Wisconsin (12 Points): No games scheduled
2. Michigan State (10 Points): "Split with" Penn State at home with 3-2 SO loss, 5-3 win
3. Notre Dame (9 Points): Swept Ohio State at home with 4-1, 3-0 wins
4. Michigan (6 Points): "Split with" Minnesota at home with 4-3 loss, 3-2 SO win
5. Penn State (5 Points): "Split with" Michigan State on the road with 3-2 SO win, 5-3 loss
6. Minnesota (4 Points): "Split with" Michigan on the road with 4-3 win, 3-2 SO loss
7. Ohio State (2 Points): Swept by Notre Dame on the road with 4-1, 3-0 losses
- CCHA Standings
1. St. Thomas (12 Points): Swept Bowling Green on the road with 4-1, 4-3 wins
2. Bemidji State (10 Points): Split with Michigan Tech at home with 4-2 loss, 6-4 win
3. Northern Michigan (9 Points): Swept Lake Superior at home with 6-4, 4-3 OT wins
4. Lake Superior (6 Points): Swept by Northern Michigan on the road with 6-4, 4-3 OT losses
5. Minnesota State (5 Points): Swept Ferris State on the road with 6-2, 3-2 OT wins
T-6. Michigan Tech (3 Points): Split with Bemidji State on the road with 4-2 win, 6-4 loss
T-6. Ferris State (3 Points): Swept by Minnesota State at home with 6-2, 3-2 OT losses
8. Bowling Green (0 Points): Swept by St. Thomas at home with 4-1, 4-3 losses
- Hockey East Standings
1. Providence (14 Points): Swept Northeastern with 2-1 OT win at home, 5-2 win on the road
2. Boston University (11 Points): Swept UMass-Lowell with 3-2 win on the road, 6-1 win at home
3. Maine (10 Points): "Split with" Boston College at home with 4-2 win, 3-2 SO loss
4. Massachusetts (9 Points): Split with Vermont at home with 4-1 win, 6-2 loss. 3-2 Win over Providence on Thurs.
T-5. Connecticut (8 Points): Split with Merrimack with 6-3 loss at home, 4-3 win on the road
T-5. Boston College (8 Points): "Split with" Maine on the road with 4-2 loss, 3-2 SO win
T-5 Merrimack (8 Points): Split with Connecticut with 6-3 win on the road, 4-3 loss at home
T-5. Vermont (8 Points): Split with Massachusetts on the road with 4-1 loss, 6-2 win
7. New Hampshire (7 Points): No games scheduled
10. UMass-Lowell (5 Points): Swept by Boston University with 3-2 loss at home, 6-1 loss on the road
11. Northeastern (2 Points): Swept by Providence with 2-1 OT loss on the road, 5-2 loss at home
- ECAC Standings
1. Quinnipiac (10 Points): Beat Brown at home 5-1, beat Yale at home 5-2
2. Dartmouth (9 Points): Lost to Cornell on the road 3-2 SO, beat Colgate on the road 3-2 OT
3. Cornell (8 Points): Beat Dartmouth at home 3-2 SO, lost to Harvard at home 3-2
4. Harvard (7 Points): Lost to Colgate on the road 3-2 SO, beat Cornell on the road 3-2
T-5. Princeton (6 Points): Beat Yale at home 5-4 OT, beat Brown at home 3-2 OT
T-5. Rensselaer (6 Points): Beat Clarkson on the road 4-2, lost to St. Lawrence on the road 6-3
T-5. Union (6 Points): Beat St. Lawrence on the road 4-3, lost to Clarkson on the road 4-1
T-5. Colgate (6 Points): Beat Harvard at home 3-2 SO, lost to Dartmouth at home 3-2 OT
9. Brown (5 Points): Lost to Quinnipiac on the road 5-1, lost to Princeton on the road 3-2 OT
T-10. Clarkson (3 Points): Lost to Rensselaer at home 4-2, beat Union at home 4-1
T-10. St. Lawrence (3 Points): Lost to Union at home 4-3, beat Rensselaer at home 6-3
T-10. Yale (3 Points): Lost to Princeton on the road 5-4 OT, lost to Quinnipiac on the road 5-1
- Atlantic Hockey Standings
1. RIT (17 Points): Split with Mercyhurst at home with 5-2 win, 2-0 loss
2. Sacred Heart (16 Points): Swept Canisius at home with 4-1, 3-2 wins
3. Bentley (12 Points): Swept Niagara at home with 6-2, 2-1 wins
4. AIC (9 Points): Swept Holy Cross with 4-1 win at home, 3-2 win on the road
T-5. Air Force (7 Points): Swept Army at home with 4-3 OT, 4-0 wins
T-5. Niagara (7 Points): Swept by Bentley on the road with 6-2, 2-1 losses
T-7. Holy Cross (7 Points): Swept by AIC with 4-1 loss on the road, 3-2 loss at home
T-7 Mercyhurst (7 Points): Split with RIT on the road with 5-2 loss, 2-0 win
9. Robert Morris (6 Points): "Split with" Alaska-Anchorage on the road with 3-2 loss, 2-2 OT tie
10. Canisius (4 Points): Swept by Sacred Heart on the road with 4-1, 3-2 losses
11. Army (1 Point): Swept by Air Force on the road with 4-3 OT, 4-0 losses
- Independent Roundup
Alaska: Swept Stonehill on the road with 3-1, 8-1 wins
Alaska-Anchorage: "Split with" Robert Morris at home with 3-2 win, 2-2 OT tie
Arizona State: Split with Denver at home with 6-5 OT win, 8-4 losses
Augustana: Split with Lindenwood on the road with 4-3 OT win, 5-3 loss
Lindenwood: Split with Augustana at home with 4-3 OT loss, 5-3 win
Long Island: Swept by Omaha on the road with 3-2, 5-4 OT losses
Stonehill: Swept by Alaska at home with 3-1, 8-1 losses
