Read The Game Notes | Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio | Buy Tickets | 2012-13 Digital Media Guide

The Northeastern women's ice hockey team resumes regular season play on Tuesday night as the Huskies host Harvard at 7 p.m. from Matthews Arena. NU, which owns a 31-17-3 all-time record in the series, meets the Crimson for the first non-Beanpot game between the schools since 2002.

Tuesday's matchup features two of the nation's top scoring offenses, as well as two of the top three penalty killing squads in the country. NU is fifth in the nation in goals per game and third in penalty killing, while Harvard is sixth and first in those categories, respectively.

The Huskies will be going up against its third straight top-ten opponent, and fourth this season. NU dropped a two-game set to No. 5/6 Boston College two weeks ago.

Northeastern has just four games remaining in the first half of the season, and will battle New Hampshire later this week in a home-and-home series, beginning on Saturday afternoon at the Whittemore Center.

The matchup with Harvard
Northeastern owns a 31-17-3 record all-time against Harvard, but it's been the Crimson which has had the upper hand in recent years. Harvard is unbeaten against the Huskies in the previous eight meetings, and hasn't lost to Northeastern since Dec. 7, 2001.

The Crimson come into Tuesday's matchup with a 6-1-0 record on the season, with all six of those wins coming in ECAC play, and the lone loss a 2-1 setback to No. 6 Boston University. Harvard has outscored opponents at a 26-5 clip this year, behind seven goals and eight assists from senior Jillian Dempsey, who has 118 career points on 102 games for the Crimson.

Lyndsey Fry has also contributed a 5-6-11 scoring line through the first seven games of the season, while Sarah Edney and Mary Parker have posted identical 2-7-9 totals. In goal, Harvard's power play has had a 20% success rate, and their penalty kill is first in the nation at a rate of 95.2%.

Laura Bellamy and Emerance Maschmeyer have split time in goal for the Crimson this season. Bellamy is 3-1-0 with a 0.75 goals against average and .957 save percentage, as well as two shutouts, while Maschmeyer is 3-0-0 with a 0.67 GAA and .961 save percentage with a shutout of her own.

Last time out
After falling behind 3-0 early in the second period, the Northeastern women's ice hockey team stormed back to score six of the next seven goals to defeat the Team Russia in an exhibition contest on Saturday night at Matthews Arena, 6-4. Chelsiea Goll and Rachel Llanes each scored twice for the Huskies, while Kendall Coyne and Kelly Wallace both registered multi-point nights. Kelsey O'Sullivan got the nod in goal for NU, making 17 saves.

Pickett approaching triple figures
Senior captain Casey Pickett is closing in on 100 career points with the Huskies. Currently sitting at 97 points, she is three shy of becoming the 21st player in program history to record 100 points.

Her three goals against Boston College two weeks ago also lifted her into a tie for 19th on the NU record list for career goals (50) with Lisa Giovanelli.

Coyne tossing up numbers
Sophomore forward Kendall Coyne is currently riding a season-high seven-game scoring streak, dating back to Oct. 16. Her seven goals and 11 assists in that span have catapulted her to the top of the Hockey East points list, and has recorded multi-point nights in each of her last six games.

During Northeastern's five-game home stand (Oct. 12-27), Coyne scored seven of the Huskies' 12 goals during the stretch. She also assisted on one NU goal to play a factor in 67% of Northeastern's scoring.

Coyne leads the team with 25 points (12 goals, 13 assists) this season, and has been named the Athletic Republic Player of the Week two times. She is one of 15 players in the country with at least 20 points, and is fourth in the nation with 2.27 points per game.

Production at both ends of the ice
Northeastern's 8-3-2 start to the season is due in large part to NU's performance at both ends of the rink. The Huskies are second in Hockey East, and are fifth in the nation, with 3.85 goals per game, and have scored at least three goals in 11 of the team's 13 games this season.

NU also leads the conference, and is 11th in the nation, with 2.15 goals allowed per game. The Huskies have also pitched three shutouts this season, which is the most in the league.

That's another Husky power play
Teams that have taken penalties against the Huskies in 2012-13 have paid the price. Northeastern has scored 30% of its goals this season while on the power play, and have scored a power play goal in eight of its last nine games.

The Huskies are operating at 31% (15-of-47) on the power play this season, which leads Hockey East and is second in the nation. NU has also netted two or more goals on the man advantage four times this season, including a season-high three power play tallies at Syracuse. NU is one of only six teams in the nation with at least 15 power play goals.

Rachel Llanes (4-5-9) is tied for second in the league in power play points this season, while Kendall Coyne (5-3-8) trails closely behind in fourth.

Killing it on the PK
The Huskies penalty killing is one of the best in the nation, having killed of 47-of-50 shorthanded situations this season. Their 94% conversion rate on the PK is the third best in the country.

NU had a string of 16 straight successful penalty kills snapped on Nov. 10 against Vermont. The only other power play tallys came against No. 3 Boston University on Oct. 16 and at No. 6 Boston College on Nov. 18.

Sophomore goaltender Chloe Desjardins has made 83 of her 327 saves this season (25%) with the Huskies shorthanded. Additionally, NU has potted three shorthanded goals this season.

Offensive onslaught
Northeastern's 9-1 victory against Connecticut on Nov. 3 was the most goals the Huskies' have scored in a game since Feb. 6, 2001 against Boston University (9-0) when the Terriers were a club team; the last time NU had nine goals in a NCAA contest was on Dec. 30, 1999 against Wisconsin (15-0).

Casey Pickett's four goals that day were the most for a Husky since Brooke Whitney scored four goals (Jan. 27, 2002 vs. Wayne St.).

Northeastern's combined 14 goals against Connecticut last weekend marked the first time since the 2000-01 season that the Huskies scored a combined 14 tallies in consecutive games; they defeated BC 7-2 on Jan. 31 and then beat BU 9-0 on Feb. 6.

NU's nine goals Saturday are the most goals scored by any Hockey East team in any game this season. The next closest is seven scored by Boston College against Boston University on Oct. 31.

Peppering the puck
The Huskies threw 94 shots on goal in the weekend set against UConn, including 52 on Nov. 3. It was the first time since Nov. 20, 1999 that NU had 50 shots in a game. Kendall Coyne leads the league with 72 shots this season, and has notched at least 10 shots in three games.

Coyne and Savage capture Four Nations gold
Sophomore forward Kendall Coyne and freshman forward Paige Savage were away from the Huskies on Nov. 10-11 as the two traveled to Finland to compete for Team USA in the Four Nations Cup.

The Americans were 3-1-0 overall, including a 3-0 victory against Canada in the gold medal game. Coyne finished the tournament with four points, and scored the game-winner in the final game against the Canadians.

Savage had one assist, coming in a 15-1 throttling of host nation Finland to propel Team USA to the gold medal game.

Scoring spurts
When the Huskies score, they score in bunches. Northeastern is averaging nearly four goals per game through 13 contests this season, and has double-digit goals in every period this season. The Huskies have scored goals less than three minutes apart on several occasions in 2012-13: at Colgate (two goals in 13 seconds), at Syracuse (two goals in 1:13) against Union (two goals in 2:45) and vs. Boston College (two goals in 1:46).

NU scored four goals in the first period at Syracuse on Oct. 6, marking the first time since Jan. 22, 2012 against UNH that the Huskies netted four in the first. Northeastern's three-goal third period against Union was the first time since Dec. 4, 2011 vs. UNH that NU had three goals in the final period.

The Huskies also potted five goals in the first period alone against Connecticut on Nov. 3, marking the first time since Dec. 3, 2006 against Maine that NU scored five goals in a period.

Strength of schedule
This season's Huskies schedule features nine games against teams that reached the NCAA Tournament last season. Northeastern will square off against Boston University four times in 2012-13, the first coming on Oct. 16 at Matthews Arena.

NU will also battle Boston College at least three times, beginning on Nov. 16 at Matthews Arena. Matchups on the road at St. Lawrence (Jan. 3) and at home against Cornell (Jan. 12) round out Husky competition against 2012 NCAA squads.

Additionally, Northeastern will play at least 13 games this season against teams that were ranked or receiving votes in the final 2011-12 USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll (BC, BU, Cornell, Harvard, SLU, PC).

Getting on them early
Scoring the first goal of the game was key to Northeastern's success in 2011-12. The Huskies were 18-3-3 when scoring first last season, compared to a 4-4-0 mark when their opponent was the first to score.

The Huskies have scored first in nine of NU's 13 games this season. Northeastern is 7-0-2 in those games.

Four or more is best
Northeastern found its most success last season when the Huskies scored in bunches. When NU scored four or more goals in 2011-12, the Huskies were a perfect 12-0-0. Conversely, when the Northeastern offense scored two goals or fewer last season, the Huskies were 4-4-3.

The Huskies have continued the trend early this season; NU has scored at least four goals in nine of the team's 13 games this season.

Matthews magic
Matthews Arena has not been a friendly venue for Northeastern opponents in recent years. Last season, the Huskies were 15-2-0 at home, and has had an above .500 record at home since the 2009-10 season.

NU also outscored its opponents 62-19 last season in games played at Matthews Arena compared to a 39-28 edge in contests away from Huntington Ave. 

Since Dave Flint became head coach in 2008, Northeastern is 34-18-3 (.654) at home, and is unbeaten in 13 of its last 15 games at home dating back to last season by a combined score of 58-25.

Anything you can do, I can do better
Northeastern's 3-0 shutout victory against Maine began what would turn out to be a historic day at Matthews Arena. Later that evening, the NU men's hockey team skated to a 0-0 tie against No. 12 New Hampshire, marking the first time in school history that both the men's and women's ice hockey teams shutout an opponent on the same day.

Get in front of it
The Huskies had a season-high 21 blocked shots on the game against Boston University on Oct. 16. Through nine games this season, NU has blocked 112 shots.

Maggie DiMasi leads Northeastern with 14 block shots, while six Huskies have at least 10 blocks this season (Pickett; 12, Llanes; 12, Murphy; 12, Doherty, 11; Hampton, 11).

On the plus side
Through 13 games this season, Northeastern has 11 players with a positive +/- rating. Casey Pickett leads the team with a +14 rating, which is tied for fourth in Hockey East. Last season, NU had 16 in the black, led by Pickett's +34 mark.

Going streaking
The Huskies have had point streak of three games or more 10 times so far this season. Kendall Coyne (seven games; seven goals, 11 assists), Casey Pickett (five games; nine goals, four assists) and Rachel Llanes (three games; two goals, four assists) all have active streaks entering Tuesday's game.

Tenacious D
Northeastern used strong goaltending and team defense throughout the 2011-12 campaign. The Huskies went 12-1-1 last season when allowing two or fewer goals. The lone defeat came in the final game of the season against Providence when NU was shutout, 2-0 in the 2012 Hockey East Semifinals.

The Huskies have allowed more than two goals just five times so far this season, and currently rank 11th in the nation with 2.15 goals allowed per game. NU also has three shutouts in nine games this season, the quickest the Huskies have shut out three opponents since the 2008-09 season.

Century club
Senior defenseman Casie Fields is the latest Husky to reach the 100-game plateau on Nov. 3 against Connecticut. She joins fellow seniors Siena Falino, Rachel Llanes and Casey Pickett all played in their 100th career games last season. Llanes and Pickett are tied for the team lead in career games played among active players at 113 games, each. Falino dressed for her 100th career game in the season finale against Providence.

Next on the list is Brittany Esposito, who has played in 89 career games at Northeastern.

Desjardins filling the void
In her first season as the NU starting goaltender, sophomore Chloe Desjardins has showed that she is up to the task in replacing All-American netminder Florence Schelling.

The WHEA Goaltender of the Month for October, Desjardins is 15th in the nation in goals against average (2.16) and 11th in save percentage (.924), and has been named the WHEA Defensive Player of the Week three times this season. 

Desjardins also got into the act offensively against Union. She recorded her first collegiate assist on Kendall Coyne's power play tally in the third period. It marked the first time since 2010 that a NU goaltender has recorded a point (Florence Schelling vs. Princeton on Oct. 22, 2010).

Freshman making early impact
Northeastern's three freshmen have stepped into the lineup and played key roles in NU's 8-3-2 start to the season. Each rookie has at least one point, led by Paige Savage (three goals, three assists) and Tori Hickel (two goals, two assists).

Savage netted the first Husky goal of the season in the opening game at Colgate, the eventual game-winner. It marked the second straight season that a freshman has netted NU's first goal of the season (Lucie Povova in 2011-12).

Jordan Hampton also scored at Colgate, while Hickel had her first career multi-point night at Syracuse with a power play goal and an assist.  The trio also combined for a +4 rating during the weekend set.

Jumping into the offense
Junior defenseman Maggie DiMasi is tied for seventh on the team, and tied for first among defensemen, with five points this season. She recently tied career highs for assists and points with two helpers against Robert Morris on Oct. 26.

DiMasi is Northeastern's active leader in career points among defensemen with 30 (seven goals, 23 assists).

She is tied with Ann Doherty for points among defensemen this season after Doherty went on a three-game point streak from Oct. 12-16.

Llanes llighting the lamp
When Rachel Llanes found the back of the net last season, the Huskies typically won. Northeastern was 8-0-1 in 2011-12 when Llanes scored a goal. The one “tie” was actually Northeastern's shootout win against Boston College in the Beanpot semifinal on Jan. 31 - the game goes down as a tie per NCAA rules.

Llanes has had similar results through NU's 13 games this season. She has registered three points on four occasions this season, and had a four-game scoring streak with three goals and six assists. NU is 4-2-2 when Llanes tallies a point, and 5-0-2 when she has a positive +/-.

Breaking through the wall
Senior forward Kelly Wallace's second period goal against Maine on Oct. 27 not only gave the Huskies some much needed breathing room, but also marked the first time in 33 games that Wallace has found the net.

Before then, the last time the Libertyville, Ill. native scored was on Oct. 21, 2011 against Princeton. In 65 career games, Wallace has posted nine goals and 11 assists.

Sophomore surge
Kendall Coyne burst onto the scene for the Huskies last season, leading the team in points (45), goals (26), shots (223) and game-winning goals (seven). Her point total was the highest for any Husky player since Hillary Witt in 1999-20 (55 points), while her goals were the highest at NU since 2001-02 (Brooke Whitney; 32).

Coyne has showed no signs of slowing up this season for the Huskies, and has already posted 25 points (12 goals, 13 assists) in just 11 games. She posted career-highs in assists (five) and points (six) on Saturday against Connecticut.

A two-time WHEA Player of the Week honoree in 2012-13, Coyne is fourth in the nation in points per game (2.27), third in goals per game (1.09), sixth in assists per game (1.18) and tied for fifth in power play goals (five).

In her 42 career games, Northeastern is 25-8-3 when she records at least one point and 23-0-1 when she records a positive +/- rating.

O'Sullivan gets the nod
In the final minutes of the Nov. 3 win against UConn, head coach Dave Flint summoned junior goaltender Kelsey O'Sullivan to replace starter Chloe Desjardins between the pipes.  O'Sullivan played the final six minutes of the game in her first collegiate action, stopping the only shot she faced.

Northeastern gives back
Following consecutive two-game weekends to start the 2012-13 season, the Northeastern women's ice hockey team took some time to give back to the community on Oct. 14 as the Huskies participated in the IIHF World Girls' Ice Hockey Weekend.

In its second year of existence, World Girls' Ice Hockey Weekend is an opportunity to celebrate female participation in the sport. The goal of the event is to grow the game through a variety of events that aim to introduce beginners to basic skills in a positive, fun, and safe environment; provide more opportunities to play ice hockey; teach fair play, sportsmanship, and teamwork; create new friendships; and develop a lifelong love of the sport.

Northeastern hosted a 75-minute clinic for nearly 80 skaters on the ice at Matthews Arena. Following the on-ice session, the Huskies were on hand to sign autographs for all participants during a post-clinic pizza party.

Meet the Huskies
This season, NU invites you to “Meet The Huskies,” an in-depth look at the Northeastern women's ice hockey team. Each week, GoNU.com will feature one student-athlete from the women's ice hockey squad and find out about their lives on and off the ice, their pregame rituals, and why they ultimately chose Northeastern.

NU unveils digital media guides
The Northeastern athletic department introduces the official 2012-13 digital media guide for the women's ice hockey team. In an upgrade from previous media guides, this year's digital guides provide a user-friendly, easy-to-navigate format to access information for all 18 teams at Northeastern.

This season's digital media guides provide a glance into the student-athletes, coaches and history of each NU team, as well as a multitude of information on the University and the City of Boston. The guide also allows fans to learn more about a specific topic with a simple click of the mouse.

Join the conversation
Follow the Huskies all season long on the team's social media outlets. The official Facebook (facebook.com/GoNUwhockey) and Twitter (@GoNUwhockey) accounts for the team provide up-to-the-minute information on all things Huskies Hockey.

Be sure to like and follow all 18 Northeastern teams and join the conversation.

We want your feedback!
The Huskies and GoNUxstream would like to know what you think about this season's broadcasts of home games at Matthews Arena. Please take a moment, click here and fill out a short survey in an effort for the Huskies to improve our productions.

The road ahead
The Huskies will continue its three-game week as NU battles New Hampshire in a home-and-home set, beginning on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. at the Whittemore Center. The teams will then faceoff on Sunday at Matthews, also at 2 p.m.

Tweets by @GoNUwhockey .