CANTON, N.Y. -- After erasing a two-goal second period deficit last night, the Northeastern men's ice hockey team returns to the ice on Saturday looking to pick up its sixth straight victory tonight at St. Lawrence at 7 p.m.
The Huskies are 5-0-0 on the young season, reaching the mark for the first time since the 1988-89 season. Northeastern is one of just two remaining undefeated teams that have played at least five games this season (Notre Dame).
Sophomore forward
Kevin Roy has recorded multi-point efforts in four of five games this season, including a two-goal effort on Friday, and is tied for third in the nation in both points per game (2.20) and goals per game (1.40) on seven goals and four assists. Roy has been aided by the play of freshman
Mike Szmatula, who is tied for first in rookie scoring with 2.00 points per game. The reigning Pro Ambitions Co-Rookie of the Week picked up his first collegiate goal last weekend against Holy Cross, and is tied for third in the nation with 10 points (one goal, nine assists) after picking up two helpers last night.
NU has received solid goaltending from
Derick Roy and
Clay Witt, who have traded starts through the team's first five contests this year. Witt got the start last night, making 39 saves to help NU come from behind to down the Saints.
The all-time series with St. Lawrence
Northeastern and St. Lawrence will meet for the third time in two seasons after not facing off for nearly a decade prior. NU holds a slight edge in the all-time series at 15-13-2, and picked up its first win against the Saints since 2002 last night. The Huskies are 6-4-1 all-time on the road against the Saints.
A look at St. Lawrence
The Saints got off to a hot start this season with three straight wins against Maine (twice) and Ferris State, but fell in their most recent contest against Ferris State on Oct. 19 (5-3). The 3-2 St. Lawrence squad is 2-1-0 at home so far this year after suffering its first loss at Appleton on Friday.
Sophomore forward Brian Ward has potted a team-leading three goals this season, while adding an assist for four points. Senior forward Greg Carey is the overall scoring leader with six points off two goals and four assists, while first-year defenseman Gavin Bayreuther has 2-2-4 totals from the blue line.
Senior netminder Matt Weninger has started all five games for the Saints this season, collecting a 3-2 record. He has posted a 3.13 goals against average with a .885 save percentage.
Last time out
Clay Witt made 39 saves, and No. 20 Northeastern scored four third period goals to erase a 2-0 deficit to top St. Lawrence on Friday night at Appleton Arena, 6-3.
Kevin Roy scored two goals for the Huskies, who improve to 5-0-0 for the fourth time in program history, and first time since 1988-89.
Dalen Hedges and
Mike Szmatula also picked up multi-point nights to lead 12 Huskies who recorded points in the contest.
The Saint outshot NU 42-24 in the game and went 2-of-6 on the power play, while the Huskies were 1-of-5 on the man advantage.
Out of the gates
Northeastern's hot start to the season has given the Huskies a 5-0-0 beginning to the year for the first time since the 1988-89 season, and fourth time in program history (1980-81, 1952-53).
Northeastern's two victories against Alabama-Huntsville last weekend gave the Huskies a 2-0-0 start to the season for the second straight year. It's the first time since 1993-94 and 1994-95 that NU has begun consecutive seasons at 2-0-0.
A win on Saturday would give the Huskies six straight wins to start the season for the second time in program history, and first time since 1980-81 when NU started 12-0-0.
Down to four
Northeastern is one of four remaining squads that have yet to lose a game this season, among teams that have played at least four games. Lake Superior State (4-0-0), Notre Dame (5-0-0) and Providence (4-0-0) all have yet to lose or tie this season.
Going streaking
A trio of Huskies is off to a torrid start to the year, recording a point in each of their first five games of the season.
Kevin Roy has a point in every game this year, including four multi-point nights, and leads the nation with 11 points on seven goals and four assists.
Braden Pimm's third period goal on Friday gave the senior a goal in all five games this season, the longest scoring streak, and point streak of his career.
Mike Szmatula also has a point in all five contests this year with one goal and nine assists, while
Zach Aston-Reese is in the midst of a three-game point streak with five points (one goal, four assists) in his last three contests.
Offensive explosion
After scoring 81 goals all of last season, Northeastern has already logged more than a quarter of that total in just five games. NU leads the nation with 26 goals this season, and its 5.20 goals per game average is second in the country. The Huskies' 26 goals this season are the most through five games since the 1994-95 season when NU tallied 31 goals in the opening five games of the season.
The Huskies' 12 goals on opening weekend were the most goals scored in the team's first two games of the season since NU scored 13 in the opening two games of the 2002-03 season.
Huskies crack USCHO.com poll at No. 20
After its hot start to the year, Northeastern entered this week's USCHO.com poll at No. 20, receiving 99 points. It's the first time NU has been in the top 20 since Oct. 29, 2012 when the Huskies were ranked 15th. Northeastern is also receiving votes in this week's USA Today poll for the first time this season.
Northeastern is one of seven Hockey East teams either ranked or receiving votes in this week's USCHO.com poll, and also appeared in the poll during the first nine weeks of last season, highlighted by a No. 14 ranking on Oct. 15, 2012.
Anything you can do ...
Head coach
Jim Madigan has utilized a pair of goaltenders so far this season. Junior
Clay Witt and redshirt-freshman
Derick Roy have alternated starts through five games, with Witt earning the start on Friday night, making 39 saves.
The two have combined to allow just nine goals in five games, the fewest goals allowed through five games since the 2008-09 season (seven goals). Their 1.80 goals against average is tied for sixth nationally.
Shots, shots, shots
For the second time this season, NU generated more than 50 shots on goal against Holy Cross last weekend. Opening night against Alabama-Huntsville saw the Huskies pepper the opposing goaltender with 52 shots on goal. It marked just the second time in the last five seasons that NU has generated at least 50 shots on goal.
Lending a helping hand
Northeastern has tallied 43 assists through five games this season, the most of any team in the country, sparked by nine helpers from freshman
Mike Szmatula (tied for first in the nation). Szmatula has an assist in every game this season, including two on Friday night and a career-high three helpers on opening night against Alabama-Huntsville.
Szmatula named Pro Ambitions Co-Rookie of the Week
Freshman
Mike Szmatula, who leads the nation in rookie scoring, was named the Pro-Ambitions Co-Rookie of the Week on Monday. Szmatula had a goal and two assists last weekend, helping lead the Huskies to a pair of wins against Holy Cross.
Szmatula, who shares the honor with Notre Dame's Vince Hinostroza, is averaging two points per game this season, is tied with Cornell's Jake Weider, who has played one game this season. He has one goal and nine assists on the young season, and is tied for fourth in the nation in points per game among all skaters and tied for seventh in the country in assists per game (1.80).
This is the second straight conference honor for the Huskies after sophomore forward
Kevin Roy was named the HEA Player of the Week last Monday.
The Commerce Township, Mich. native picked up the secondary assist on
Torin Snydeman's game-winning goal at Holy Cross on Saturday before recording his third multi-point effort of the year on Saturday night at Matthews Arena. Szmatula buried his first collegiate goal in the series finale on a wrist shot over the crossbar in the first period. He also added an assist on
Braden Pimm's power play goal in the third period.
Hello, my name is ...
Northeastern houses 12 freshmen (eight forwards, three defensemen, one goaltender) on its 2013-14 roster, which is the most in Hockey East and tied with Sacred Heart for the most rookies in the nation. Eight freshmen have seen playing time so far this season, and have accounted for five goals and 27 assists, which is 46% of Northeastern's total scoring.
Pimm on the power play
The Northeastern power play, currently ranked third in the nation with nine goals on the man advantage, has received three from senior
Braden Pimm in four games, already matching his total from last season.
Pimm recorded two PPG in each game against Alabama-Huntsville, becoming the first Husky since
Garrett Vermeersch on Oct. 9-10, 2009 to net a power play goal in each of his team's first two games of the season. Pimm was one of six players in the nation to net two power play goals in his first two contests.
Oh brother
Northeastern's 28-man roster features two sets of brothers in Cody and
Nathan Ferriero, as well as Derick and
Kevin Roy. The Huskies are one of just two teams in the nation to have two pairs of brothers on its roster, joining Quinnipiac's Connor and Tim Clifton and Conner and Kellen Jones.
Da na na, da na na
Freshman
Mike Szmatula's first collegiate goal caught the attention of the nation this week when it was included in the NCAA's Ice Hockey Plays of the Week. The forward took a pass from
Nathan Ferriero and flew into the attacking zone. Szmatula then quickly cut into the slot before firing a shot across his body into the top right corner for a 2-0 Husky lead.
All eyes on me
When Northeastern takes the ice at No. 5 Boston College on Nov. 1, it will do so in front of a national audience. The Huskies and Eagles will square off on NBCSN at 8 p.m. as part of a two-year contract extension between NBCSN and Hockey East, the league announced Oct. 8
In addition, NBC Sports Live Extra, NBC Sports Group's live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, and tablets, will stream all league games telecast on NBCSN. All games will be live streamed via "TV Everywhere," the media industry's effort to make quality content available to authenticated customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms. For desktops, NBC Sports Live Extra can be accessed at NBCSports.com/liveextra.
Season and individual game tickets now on sale
Season and individual game tickets are now on sale for the Northeastern men's ice hockey team. Starting at just $100, fans can secure a great seat to see the NU men's team take the ice for all of its 14 home games during the 2013-14 season, including nine Hockey East games. Individual game tickets start range from $10 to $20. Log on to
GoNU.com/tickets for more information.
Huskies hockey in high definition
GoNUxstream will broadcast each and every home men's hockey game free, in high definition, live at www.GoNU.com/xstream. Northeastern University was the first school in Hockey East to broadcast a live, HD stream over the internet. The broadcast is complete with live stats, live chat, commentating and sideline reporting.
Hang out with the Huskies
Be sure to connect with Northeastern athletics and Northeastern men's hockey on Facebook and Twitter to receive scores and information, interact with fellow fans, access photos and videos, and receive exclusive promotional and ticket offers. Follow NU Athletics, @
GoNUathletics, and 'Like' us at
facebook.com/GoNUathletics. To get live, in-game updates of Northeastern men's hockey, follow @
GoNUmhockey, and 'Like' us at
facebook.com/GoNUmhockey.
The road ahead
Hockey East play gets underway for the Huskies next weekend when Northeastern squares off with No. 5/5 Boston College in a home-and-home set.
Friday's game at Conte Forum will be a nationally televised game on NBCSN (8 p.m.) before the teams meet again on Saturday night at Matthews Arena at 7 p.m.
