HARTFORD, Conn. - For the second time in just over a week, UConn junior Alexander Payusov (Montreal, Quebec) delivered the Huskies an overtime victory, scoring the game-winning goal just 51 seconds into overtime to beat Boston University, 3-2, Friday night at the XL Center.
The Huskies led 2-0 after the first period but BU would storm back in the third, tying it with just over a minute left in regulation. UConn wasted little time in overtime, putting three shots on net on their first possession, ending with Payusov burying a rebound off a Karl El-Mir (Montreal, Quebec) shot to send the Huskies home with their third-straight win.
UConn improved to 10-17-2 overall and 5-12-2 in Hockey East with the win. BU dropped their sixth-straight game and fall to 10-15-3 and 8-8-2 in the league.
The Huskies two first period goals came from El-Mir, his 13th on the season, and junior Wyatt Newpower (Hugo, Minn). BU got a 4-on-4 goal to cut the lead in half at 10:42 in the third off the stick of Patrick Harper and then tied it at 18:55 as Patrick Curry buried a one-timer to force overtime.
UConn killed off all five BU power plays on the night and limited the Terriers to BU to 22 shots. went 1-for-6 on the power play themselves. Freshman Tomas Vomacka (Trutnov, Czech Republic) made 20 saves to earn the win.
1st Period:
The Huskies got out to a fast start and put pressure on the Terriers throughout the first period, holding a 13-5 edge on shots.
BU took three penalties in the game's first 7:24 and the Huskies were able to capitalize for a 1-0 lead. On their second power play chance, junior Philip Nyberg (Linkoping, Sweden) blasted one on net from the top left circle and El-Mir found a spot in front to get a redirect past Oettiinger for his seventh power play goal on the season and a 1-0 lead at 7:06.
UConn put one more on the board late in the period on Newpower's third of the season. The Huskies created a turnover in the neutral zone and freshman Ruslan Iskhakov (Moscow, Russia) picked-up the puck on the right half boards. Iskhakov fed Newpower into the high slot and he whipped a wrister through traffic to beat Oettinger for a 2-0 lead at 17:51.
2nd Period:
There was no scoring the second period but the period was filled with penalties on both clubs, 12 being called in total.
3rd Period:
BU pulled within 2-1 at the 10:42 mark as Harper converted on a wrap-around chance just before a 4-on-4 expired, his third goal on the season.
The Terriers pulled goaltender Jake Oettinger at 18:57 and BU found the tying goal just two seconds later. David Farrance fed a cross-ice pass to Curry in the right circle and he buried the one-time chance for his 11th on the year, tying it at 2-2.
OT:
UConn jumped on BU right out of the gates in overtime and El-Mir fired on Oettinger, creating a rebound that Payusov buried at the left post for his team-leading 15th and the 3-2 win just 51 seconds in.
Up Next:
The Huskies and the Terriers will close out their weekend series on Saturday night at Agganis Arena at 7 pm.
