Box Score

In a goaltending exhibition at Schneider Arena, Florence Schelling (38 saves) and Genevieve Lacasse (42 saves) would not be beaten as No. 7 Northeastern (21-6-4, 14-3-3 WHEA) and Providence battled to a goalless draw.

The tie brings some uncertainty into Northeastern's bid for the Hockey East regular season championship and the top seed in the WHEA Tournament. With Boston College's win over Vermont this afternoon, the Huskies will now need to win their final regular-season game – against Providence on Sunday – to assure themselves the top seed. It was the first time Northeastern had been shut out since Dec. 7, 2010, when Boston University's Kerrin Sperry stopped 23 shots in a 3-0 Terriers win.

Chances weren't hard to come by on either side, but magnificent play from both netminders kept opposing skaters hungry for goals until the end. Schelling now leads the nation outright with eight shutouts on the season.

The Huskies found themselves on the back foot within a minute after Schelling was called for a tripping penalty following a Providence rush. The nation's best penalty kill took the nation's worst power play to a predictable result, with the only shot on goal for either side during the two minutes going to Northeastern freshman Colleen Murphy, who had pinched in for a shorthanded chance.

The possession battle was nip and tuck through the opening minutes, but the Huskies had the better of the chances early on and seemed determined not to let PC attack the front of Schelling's net. Junior Rachel Llanes, freshman Kendall Coyne and junior tri-captain Casey Pickett all had half-chances stopped by Lacasse. It was the beginning of a particularly frustrating night for Coyne, who was held without a point for just the fourth time all season despite launching 11 shots on goal.

The Friars thought they had the opening goal after eight minutes when Corinne Buie beat a Northeastern defender wide, but Schelling got just enough of the puck to send it skittering along the goal line. Jessica Cohen got a stick on the rebound, but Schelling's right pad remained strong and froze the puck as it was on its way in.

The Huskies got their turn on the power play at 9:07 when Christie Jensen was called for hooking while trying to dig the puck out from behind her net. Coyne nearly found junior Brittany Esposito staring at an open net, but the pass led her just too far and the chance went begging. Seconds later Jessica Vella intercepted a breakout pass right in front of the NU net, but after having gone to the ice Schelling reached up and made a fabulous glove save.

Providence had the momentum to open the middle frame, with Brooke Simpson and Abby Gauthier both going close, but more sterling work from Schelling kept the teams on level terms. The Friars attempted the first five shots of the period before Coyne tried to jam one past Lacasse on a wraparound.

Teams were at four a side at 5:38 when Ashley Cottrell held sophomore Maggie DiMasi in the neutral zone, and DiMasi was booked for embellishment on the way down. Llanes found Esposito in front of the net, but Lacasse was wise to it and denied the Edmonton native.

Just as the penalties expired, Gauthier was called for hooking to give the Huskies another power play chance.  Coyne was active throughout the two minutes, including a top-shelf backhand effort from a tight angle, but Lacasse wouldn't be beaten as the teams hit the midway point still scoreless.

The Friars continued to squander their earlier momentum when Laura Veharanta hit the box for cross-checking at 10:29. Lacasse played hero once again, stacking the pads to deny what looked like a sure goal for freshman Ann Doherty. PC then gained possession and ignited a shorthanded two-on-one rush, and after Schelling did well to deny Kate Bacon, Murphy grasped hold of the Providence senior and earned a trip to the box at 11:43. Once again Northeastern got the best chance of a PC power play, with Coyne catching Lacasse out of her crease and nearly firing in on an open net, but Lacasse was back in time to make the stop.

Late in the second, Schelling made yet another superlative stop on Beth Hanrahan's deflection; a minute later, Haley Frade couldn't quite tee up a rebound effort with Schelling out of position. Finally, after Northeastern was caught on a change and PC broke in two-on-none, the Swiss international stoned Cottrell's wrister from the slot.

Providence continued to hamstring itself heading into the locker room, with Emily Groth bodychecking sophomore Claire Santostefano with 41 seconds to play. The Huskies took the advantage into the third period but could not convert, with Lacasse making her 33rd save – to Schelling's 23 – along the way.

The Friars got the first good chance of the third with Veharanta and Cottrell breaking out two on one with just Doherty to beat, but Schelling denied Cottrell yet again to kill the chance. Seconds later both Coyne and DiMasi had time to wind up, but Lacasse's glove was quick to both efforts. Coyne's shot was her tenth of the game.

Coyne's 11th and final shot of the game came on a breathtaking unassisted run through neutral ice, but after slipping a defender her shot from the inner right hash was straight at Lacasse. The chances continued for Northeastern as freshman Lucie Povova nearly found graduate tri-captain Dani Rylan all alone in front, but Lacasse swatted the pass back behind the net and the teams reached the third period's midpoint still tied.

Providence felt it should have had a penalty shot at 11:25 but had to settle for a power play. Sophomore Sonia St. Martin's shot was blocked by Cottrell, who sprinted out to neutral ice and appeared to have a clear angle on goal, but Doherty came in from just the enough of a side angle and tripped her up to prevent a breakaway. The Friars would summarily move to 0-3 on the power play, with only Jessica Cohen's speculative blue-line effort making it through to Schelling.

With 4:30 to play Northeastern nearly snatched a winner via a linesman's error. Coyne, Esposito and Pickett gained the zone with the latter incorrectly judged onside, and Esposito ended up with a chance low in the slot but was again denied by Lacasse.

Chances were everywhere for the Huskies as the final two minutes expired: Coyne broke in two on one but sophomore Katie MacSorley couldn't tee up her feed; later Pickett and Coyne tried to connect on a similar play, but it was Coyne who whiffed on a difficult pass in the slot.

Overtime was a blur of chances in both directions as the teams scrapped for a winner. Both teams' top guns were in on it, with Cottrell and Coyne getting their chances and creating for teammates, but through three minutes nothing had come of it. With 1:15 to play Cottrell and Veharanta came in with just senior tri-captain Stephanie Gavronsky to beat, but the omnipresent Schelling coolly stopped the former's wrist shot with a butterfly. Neither team could set up shop in the other's zone as time expired.

Northeastern will have Saturday off before returning home to battle the Friars once again on Senior Day, at 2 p.m. Sunday afternoon. Northeastern will honor its three graduating members, graduate Dani Rylan and seniors Stephanie Gavronsky and Florence Schelling. The program will also honor the seven members of its WHEA All-Decade Team in a ceremony at the first intermission.