BOSTON, Mass. - Northeastern took a 5-1 loss to Providence College on Friday night at Matthews Arena. The Friars got two goals and an assist from Matt Taormina and 30 saves from goalie Tyler Sims. Junior Ryan Ginand scored for the HUskies. Northeastern will look to rebound on Saturday when it takes on Providence at Schneider Arena at 7 p.m.
Northeastern is 11-7-3 overall and 8-6-2 in Hockey East with the loss while Providence improved to 10-9-2 overall and 7-5-2 in Hockey East. The 11th-ranked Huskies remain third in Hockey East while Providence is tied for fourth, just two points behind the Huskies in the standings.
Providence put three goals on the board in the third period before the Huskies got one up at the end of the frame. The Friars scored their first goal on a Northeastern power play when Nick Mazzolini stole the puck at the point, skated in for a breakaway and scored at 12:22 in the second period. It was the Friars' nation-leading eight short-handed goal this season.
Joe Vitale was called for tripping at 15:35 and Jacques Perreault was whistled for cross-checking at 15:58, giving Providence a five-on-three advantage for 1:38. The Friars responded with a Taormina score from the right circle at 16:28. The Friars still had a one-man advantage and used it when Jon Rheault scored at 16:47. Rheault had nine shots on goal in the game.
The Huskies got a five-on-three of their own at 18:15 in the second period when Cody Wild went to the box for hooking and Mark Fayne went for contact to the head-high sticking. The Huskies cycled the puck around effectively on the power play to set up Ginand's score. Chad Costello had it at the left boards, passed it inside to Joe Vitale and Vitale shot it. The rebound went to Ginand on the right side of the crease and he put it in for his sixth goal of the season. That made it 3-1 at 18:56 in the second period.
Providence put the game out of reach in the third period with goals by Taormina at 3:01 and Ian O'Connor at 11:36. Northeastern pulled goalie Brad Thiessen (34 saves) after O'Connor's goal and freshman Mike Binnington played the remaining 8:24 in net, making a pair of saves.
Providence scored four goals on special teams, with three on the power play and Mazzolini's short-handed goal.
Northeastern and Providence rematch on Saturday at Schneider Arena at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on 890 ESPN Boston and WRBB Radio and will be on TV on Cox Sports in Rhode Island.