VERMONT SKATES PAST PROVIDENCE COLLEGE, 7-1
Drew MacKenzie, Tobias Nilsson-Roos and Anders Franzon each post goal and assist for Catamounts

Junior defenseman Drew MacKenzie had a goal and an assist for Vermont

BURLINGTON, Vt. - Vermont scored three goals in the second period and received points from 13 different skaters to lead the Catamounts past Providence 7-1 in Hockey East action at Gutterson Fieldhouse Saturday night.

The Catamounts had five different players record multi-point games as they extended their unbeaten streak to 10 games against the Friars (6-0-4) and extended their home winning streak to six games over PC.

Rob Madore made 31 saves in net for Vermont who improves to 6-15-5 (4-11-4 HEA) and moves ahead of Providence by a point in league standings. Madore is unbeaten in seven contests against PC (4-0-3) with a goals-against average of 1.28.

Vermont struck first 2:14 into the opening period when Ben Albertson took a cross-ice feed from Brett Leonard in stride and fired a wrist shot from the bottom of the left circle past Alex Beaudry for the early 1-0 lead. Anders Franzon picked up the second assist on the play.

Josh Burrows was sent to the penalty box at 6:30 of the first period and Providence was able to even the score 25 seconds later when Matt Germain found himself all alone on the right doorstep and put home the Friars first power play score of the weekend. Kyle MacKinnon picked up an assist on the play.

The Catamounts struck again at 14:08 of the first period when Chris McCarthy notched his sixth goal of the year to give Vermont a 2-1 advantage. Kyle Medvec slid a pass to McCarthy who was waiting at the bottom of the left circle un-marked and wasted no time tossing the puck on net. Sebastian Stalberg was credited with the second assist on the play.

"The way we played tonight, coming out and leaving off where we were last night, playing with a lot of great energy in the legs was fun to see," said Vermont head coach Kevin Sneddon who improves to 11-3-5 against Providence.

Vermont took a 3-1 lead when Drew MacKenzie picked up a power play goal for the second straight night. MacKenzie was about to circle the net when he threw the puck back into the goalmouth and off of the skate of Beaudry for a two goal lead heading into the first intermission. Stalberg picked up his second assist of the period on the play.

"I was really pleased with special teams. In terms of decision making and execution I thought the penalty kill did a great job and the power play gave us energy," Sneddon said.

Vermont went 3-for-4 on the penalty kill (10-for-11 on the weekend).

Franzon lit the lamps at 14:05 of the second stanza after blocking a shot, the sophomore blue liner took the puck coast-to-coast and fired a wrist shot from the top of the left circle past Beaudry to extend the Catamount lead to 4-1. The goal was unassisted.

"We've gone through a lot this year and we knew what we were coming into this weekend as in standings," said Franzon. "To put it together was relieving and just a great feeling."

Tobias Nilsson-Roos doubled the Vermont lead at 17:36 of the second frame when he collected a puck goal line extended, curled into the slot and ripped a shot high glove side past Beaudry for a 5-1 lead. Medvec and Arthur Griem picked up assists on the goal.

Vermont tallied its third goal of the second frame when H.T. Lenz wrapped around the net and stuffed home his second goal of the season at 18:40 giving the Catamounts a 6-1 advantage heading into the locker room. Matt White and Connor Brickley picked up assists on the play.

Jack Downing got on score sheets at 14:39 of the final frame when he buried his eighth goal of the year, finishing a scrum in front of the net as the Providence defense was unable to clear the puck. MacKenzie and Nilsson-Roos aided the goal.

"I thought our guys didn't get selfish at all, they stuck with the game plan right through to the end and really did a nice job. We had some nice efforts out of everybody," Sneddon added.

Beaudry finished the game with 19 saves for the Friars before being relieved by Justin Gates for the final period. Gates finished with 12 saves for Providence who falls to 7-13-6 (3-11-5 HEA).

Vermont returns to action when it visits No. 15 Maine (11-8-6, 8-6-4 HEA) in a two-game series, Friday (Feb. 11) and Saturday (Feb. 12) at 7:00 at the Alfond Sports Arena. Live video of Friday's game will be available on Goblackbears.com. Saturday's game will be televised on WABI (Bangor, Maine's CBS TV). The games will be broadcast on WVMT-620 AM and on the Internet at SportsJuice.com.

NOTES: The Catamounts two native Vermonters (Albertson, Leonard) connected on the first UVM goal - McCarthy now has six points (3g, 3a) in five career games against PC - Medvec leads all active Catamounts with eight career points (2g, 6a) against the Friars - Stalberg now has nine career multi-point games - Griem recorded his first point with an assist on the Nilsson-Roos goal - Franzon registered his first goal at Gutterson Fieldhouse and his first multi-point game - UVM wins the season series 1-0-2.