Puffer Scores Two Goals As Vermont Edges Northeastern, 3-2
Sophomore forward Craig Puffer scores two goals for Catamounts

Sophomore forward Craig Puffer scored two goals for the Catamounts
Prd Time  Team Score Type Scored By Assists
1st 0:45  NOE1-0 EV Adam Gaudette (5)Dylan Sikura/9, Trevor Owens/1
1st 5:05  VER1-1 PP Craig Puffer (3)Max Daigle/3, Liam Coughlin/2
1st 6:05  NOE2-1 EV Dylan Sikura (2)Garret Cockerill/3
2nd 9:03  VER2-2 EV Matt Alvaro (2)Kevin Irwin/3, Mario Puskarich/1
3rd 14:55  VER3-2 EV GW Craig Puffer (4)Jarrid Privitera/3
Scoring 1st 2nd 3rd Final
Vermont  1113
Northeastern  2002
Shots on Goal 1st 2nd 3rd SOG
Vermont  1361029
Northeastern  611926
Team Stats and Records  PP PIM SHGF
Vermont (4-1-1)  1/5 4/8 0
Northeastern (3-2-2)  0/4 5/10 0
Vermont Goaltending MIN GA 1 2 3 Saves
Stefanos Lekkas (W, 3-0-1)59:572 411924
Empty Net0:030     
Northeastern Goaltending MIN GA 1 2 3 Saves
Ryan Ruck (L, 3-2-2)58:223 125926
Empty Net1:380     

BOSTON - Craig Puffer scored twice, including the game-winning tally with 5:05 left in regulation, and Stefanos Lekkas made 24 stops to lead Vermont (4-1-1, 1-0-0) to a come-from-behind victory against the No. 16 Northeastern men's ice hockey team (3-2-2, 0-1-0) on Sunday afternoon at Matthews Arena, 3-2.

Adam Gaudette gave the hosts a 1-0 lead with his fifth goal of the year less than a minute into the contest before Puffer tied things up five minute later. Dylan Sikura then put NU up 2-1 one minute after the Puffer tally before the Catamounts leveled the score again midway through the second period.

The Catamounts outshot the Huskies 29-26 in the game and went 1-of-5 on the power play while holding Northeastern to an 0-of-4 showing on the power play. Ryan Ruck made 26 stops in goal for Northeastern.

Goal descriptions:

- Northeastern struck just 45 seconds into the game on Gaudette's fifth goal of the year to give the Huskies the early edge. After taking a feed from Trevor Owens exiting the defensive zone, Sikura tossed a saucer pass ahead to Gaudette coming through the neutral zone. Gaudette then sped into the attacking zone before tossing a wrister on goal that beat Lekkas.

- Vermont leveled the score at one as Craig Puffer netted his third goal of the year with the Catamounts on the power play. With UVM moving the puck around the zone on the man advantage, Max Daigle took a pass from Liam Coughlin and ripped a shot in on Ruck from the point. Puffer, creating a screen, was then able to get a stick on the puck to redirect it home for the score with 14:55 to play in the period.

- The Huskies responded quickly, however, exactly one minute later on Sikura's second of the season. With UVM trying to wrap the puck around the boards and out of the zone, Garret Cockerill won a puck battle along the wall and chipped it down to Sikura. The junior then smoothly maneuvered his way around the zone, and past two defensemen, before firing a shot top shelf that beat Lekkas.

- The Catamounts brought it back to even with 10:57 to play in the second period on Matt Alvaro's second goal of the season. With UVM sustaining pressure in the attacking zone, Mario Puskarich fired a shot on goal from the right side that Ruck got a pad on, but Alvaro was waiting on the doorstep to clean up the rebound and tie the game at two.

- Vermont took its first lead of the game with 5:05 left in regulation when Puffer took a feed from Jarrid Privitera, sped down the left side and sent a low shot on goal that beat Ruck five-hole for the score.

Stats of the game:

- Northeastern is now 23-31-7 all-time against Vermont

- Sunday's loss ended Northeastern's 13-game home unbeaten streak (12-0-1) and winning streak (nine games), dating back to last year.

- Gaudette has a goal in each of his last four games, a new career-long. He also has points in five of his first seven games of the year.

- Sikura tallied his third multi-point game of the season on Sunday. He has 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in seven games this season.

- The Huskies now have 13 first period goals on the season, which ranks tied for the third most in the nation.

- Sunday marked the first time since Mar. 9, 2013 that neither John Stevens or Nolan Stevens dressed in a game.

The road ahead:

- The Huskies will continue league play next weekend as Northeastern battles crosstown rival No. 4/4 Boston University, beginning on Friday night at Matthews Arena.