Box score

Northeastern won its third straight Hockey East contest at Merrimack on Friday evening by a 5-1 final. The Huskies stormed into Lawler Arena and topped the best home team in the country (.900 winning percentage) to give head coach Greg Cronin his 50th-career Hockey East victory at Northeastern.

Multi-point performances from juniors Wade MacLeod and Tyler McNeely and senior Kyle Kraemer fueled Northeastern's offensive attack that included two powerplay markers in the first period. Rookie Drew Daniels added another in the second period, marking NU's third three-powerplay tally performance of the season (Bentley and Maine).

The Huskies defense was anchored by freshman Chris Rawlings' stellar 37-save performance, marking his second-highest total in a Northeastern sweater. The Noth Delta, British Columbia native earned his 11th victory of the season while MC netminder Andrew Braithwaite slipped to 6-6-0 with 19 saves.

MacLeod scored his team-leading third game-winner via his fourth powerplay marker on the year. The Coquitlam, B.C. native registered his 20th-career multi-point performance with the goal and a pair of helpers. Kraemer tallied his fourth-career two-assist outing while McNeely mirrored MacLeod's act with his club-best fifth powerplay goal and two assists.

A faceoff in Northeastern's zone turned into an early transitional tally for the Huskies just 00:30 into the game. McNeely grabbed the winning draw from rookie Justin Daniels, streaked down the right side and dished to Kraemer in the seam. Kraemer immediately filtered the puck down to J. Daniels on the left circle where he was able to draw first blood on a backhand flip for the 1-0 edge.

MacLeod doubled the lead at 6:21 in powerplay fashion as Kraemer and McNeely figured into the play with consecutive assists. An interference call on John Jamieson at 5:37 set up the nifty one-time goal as Kraemer fed MacLeod from the low post directly in front of Braithwaite for the 2-0 cushion.

Rawlings played his part in keeping the Huskies ahead by making a huge stop at the 10-minute mark. Merrimack's aggressive penalty kill led to a breakaway all alone, but Rawlings snuffed out the deke to keep the Warriors off the board.

The Huskies piled on with their second powerplay goal from McNeely at 15:21 to distance themselves, 3-0. Following a hooking call to Joe Cucci, Northeastern worked it around in Merrimack's zone, leading to a MacLeod attempt from the left circle. McNeely created the screen on Braithwaite and managed to redirect the disc through his five-hole. Freshman Jake Newton notched his 10th assist by offering the puck to MacLeod from the point.

Merrimack broke into the scoring column on a powerplay goal at 6:20 of the second period thanks to a high-sticking call on sophomore J.P. Maley. Fraser Allan's rip from the left point caromed off of Rawlings and right to an eager Chris Barton. Barton fired in the wide-open look to cut into the Huskies' lead, 3-1.

D. Daniels' first collegiate powerplay tally at 17:16 of the second recouped the three-goal lead for the Huskies as Pat Bowen has hauled away for cross checking at 15:48. D. Daniels beat Braithwaite on yet another tip up front with senior David Strathman delivering the initial whack from the point. MacLeod set up the score, earning his third point of the night on the play.

Freshman Robbie Vrolyk had the last word with his first goal since Maine on Nov. 14. Vrolyk accepted a pass from junior Mike Hewkin at center ice and snapped a vicious wrister in stride from the left post at the 13:00-minute mark. The last time Hewkin made the scoring sheet was also against Maine. Newcomer Drew Ellement factored in with his fifth assist of the season.

MacLeod (9-11-20) and Kraemer (10-10-20) were the first two Huskies in the race to 20 points this season.

The Huskies have won four of their last five league games with eight regular-season battles remaining on the docket. Northeastern nudged its record in between Beanpot games over the .500 mark with Friday's victory. NU is 31-30-3 in games sandwiched in between Beanpot tilts.

Northeastern returns to the TD Garden to meet up with Harvard in the consolation round of the 58th Annual Beanpot Tournament. Northeastern was slighted in a nail-biter, 2-1, against Boston University in the first round while the Crimson were shutout, 6-0, against Boston College on the other side of the bracket. Game time is scheduled for 5 p.m.