Game-day information: Game 36 vs. Merrimack - Hockey East First Round (Game Two)
When	Saturday, Mar. 7, 4 p.m.
Where	Boston, Mass.  |  Matthews Arena  |  Directions
Broadcast and stats	TELEVISION: NESN  |  Channel Listings Live Stats  |  Audio  |  Tickets
Notes and yearbook	Game notes (PDF)  |  2014-15 Yearbook  |  Media Center
Promotions	VOTE: Roy for Hobey Baker  |  VIDEO: McMurtry previews the playoffs
Social media	@GoNUmhockey  facebook.com/GoNUmhockey  |  RSVP to the Facebook event  instagram.com/GoNUathletics  Use #GoNU

BOSTON -- After watching Merrimack pot an overtime game-winner on Friday night, the Northeastern men's ice hockey team will look to extend its season on Saturday afternoon when the Huskies host Merrimack in Game Two of the Hockey East First Round series at Matthews Arena.
 
Recapping last night's 3-2 loss to Merrimack
After Northeastern battled back from a two-goal deficit in the third period to force overtime, a shorthanded tally from Kyle Singleton just 2:34 into the extra frame sent Merrimack to a 3-2 victory in Game One of the Hockey East First Round series on Friday night.
 
Matt Benning nearly ended the game for the Huskies moments prior to the Singleton tally when Benning's shot from the slot caught the left post, allowing the Warriors to transition up ice while down a man. Singleton then picked the top right corner from atop the right face-off dot for the game-winner.
 
The all-time series with the Warriors
Northeastern and Merrimack will meet for the fourth time this season on Saturday. The teams split the regular season series, 1-1-0, before the Warriors took Game One last night. Overall, the Huskies own a 50-41-10 mark against the Warriors including victories in three of the last five meetings at Matthews Arena, dating back to the 2012-13 season.
 
Scouting Merrimack
Merrimack arrives on Huntington Avenue as the No. 11 seed in the tournament after being swept by New Hampshire last weekend. The Warriors' team offense is ranked No. 11 in the Hockey East, averaging 2.20 goals per game, while their defense comes in at No. 3 in the conference, allowing just 2.32 goals per contest. Despite being the second-most penalized team in the conference, Merrimack's penalty kill is tops in the Hockey East, shutting teams out 89.2% of the time.
 
Brett Seney is the locker room leader in points with 26 on the season. His 15 assists lead the team, while his 11 goals are tied for the most on the roster. The freshman forward also boasts a team-high plus minus rating of +7. Along with Seney, Hampus Gustafsson and Brian Christie have had strong years offensively, accounting for 25 and 23 points, respectively. Gustaffson is just behind Seney with 11 goals and 14 assists;
 
In net for Merrimack has been Rasmus Tirronen. The senior has started 27 games this season and has an overall record of 11-12-3. His 2.23 goals against average is No. 5 in the Hockey East.
 
Back to the playoffs
The Huskies are back in the Hockey East playoffs for the second straight season, and 23rd time in program history. It also marks the ninth time in 23 playoff appearances that Northeastern enters the playoffs as the No. 6 seed or higher. NU has advanced past the quarterfinal round eight times, including two of its last three playoff appearances (2009 and 2011).
 
Playoff history against Merrimack
Northeastern and Merrimack will be meeting in the Hockey East playoffs for the first time in league history this weekend. The only other time that the teams met in the postseason came during the 1988 NCAA tournament when Merrimack upset the Huskies in a two-game, total goal series. NU took the first game, 5-3, before the Warriors stormed back with a 7-3 win in the second game to eliminate Northeastern from the tournament.
 
March hockey at Matthews
This weekend will mark the first time since the 2008-09 season that the Huskies will host a Hockey East playoff series. That year, Northeastern knocked off Massachusetts in a best-of-three quarterfinal, 2-1, with an overtime goal from Alex Tuckerman. Overall, NU will be hosting its seventh Hockey East playoff series this weekend. Northeastern is 7-6 in Hockey East playoffs games played at Matthews Arena, and has advanced to the next round in three of their six home playoff series.
 
Down to the wire
When faced with a best-of-three Hockey East playoff series, the Huskies typically use the maximum amount of time. In each of Northeastern's last four postseason appearances, the series has gone to a deciding third game. NU is 2-2 in those series.
 
Offense explodes against Connecticut
In NU's two-game sweep of UConn, the Northeastern offense potted 15 goals, including a 9-0 victory at Matthews Arena on Feb. 13. It was the most goals scored in a two-game span since the 1993-94 season when NU defeated Illinois Chicago on Nov. 6 (10-9) before a 5-4 win against Boston University on Nov. 12. Northeastern's offensive outburst against UConn on Feb. 13 marked the first time they've scored nine goals in a game since defeating Alabama-Huntsville 9-1 on opening night last season (Oct. 11, 2013). NU's nine-goal margin of victory was also the largest for the Huskies since defeating Connecticut 10-1 on Oct. 11, 2012.
 
Sizzling start to the second half
NU was unbeaten in its first four games in January for the second straight season. It's the first time in program history that NU has gone unbeaten in consecutive Januarys. The last time NU was unbeaten in its first three games in January in two straight seasons was the 1965-66 and 1966-67 seasons.
 
Huskies off to a hot start in 2015
Since returning from the holiday break, the Huskies have been playing some of their best hockey of the season. NU is 10-5-3 since the start of the new year and is unbeaten in nine its last 13 games.
 
The Huskies' nine-game unbeaten streak was tied for the fourth longest unbeaten streak in program history and first since the 2007-08 season when NU went unbeaten in 11 straight (9-0-2). The Huskies are also tied for the eighth best winning percentage (.675) in the nation in the last 20 games.
 
Offense starting to find the net
The Northeastern offense has hit its stride in the last 20 games with 78 goals, fourth in the nation in that span. Of those 78, 29 have come in the third period, which is tied for fourth in the country.
 
The Huskies also had more goals in February (42) than they did in the first half of the season (36 goals in 16 games).
 
Northeastern's grade-A chances
With 105 goals through 35 games of the season, NU has done most of its damage from high-percentage areas. Of Northeastern's 105 goals this season, 92 of them have come from the grade-A area (87.6%).
 
Cardiac canines
NU is 11-5-3 since returning from the holiday break, and has come from behind in seven games. NU erased a three-goal deficit in the third period on Jan. 2 vs. St. Lawrence before potting a pair of third period tallies the next night against the Saints. Then on Dec. 6, the Huskies stormed back from a 2-0 deficit in the first period to top No. 19 Yale, 3-2.
 
In the last 20 games, Northeastern is outscoring its opponents 50-33 in the final 40 minutes of regulation, and 26-11 in the third period alone.
 
Power play production
With NU 12th in the nation in power play percentage (33-of-157; 21%), several Huskies have upped their point totals while on the man advantage. NU has 98 of its 304 points this season on the power play (32.2%), while Kevin Roy has 18 points on the man advantage, which is tied for seventh in the nation, tied for second in Hockey East and 40.9% of his season total (18-of-44). He is one of only 11 players in the nation with at least 18 power play points.
 
40/40 Club
On Feb. 23 against Boston University, Kevin Roy reached 40 points in a season for the second consecutive year. He's the first Husky to accomplish the feat since Jordon Shields logged 46 points in 1994-95 before another 43 in 1995-96.
 
Second act
A trio of sophomores has led the charge for the Huskies through the 2014-15 season. Dalen Hedges (nine goals, 25 assists) is second on the team with 34 points this season, while Mike Szmatula (13 goals, 16 assists), Matt Benning (24 assists) and Zach Aston-Reese (12 goals, 10 assists) trail close behind heading into postseason play. Last season, the now sophomore class was fourth in the nation in rookie scoring with 125 points (42 goals, 83 assists).
 
This year, they lead all sophomore classes with 146 points (45 goals, 101 assists). The next closest is Michigan with 121 points.
 
Roy named Hobey Baker Award candidate
For the second straight season, junior forward Kevin Roy has been nominated for the Hobey Baker Award, which honors an elite NCAA men's ice hockey player who exhibits both athletic talent and strong sportsmanship.
 
Voting is now open for fans that would like to show support for the junior. Fan voting plays a crucial role as the field will be cut from the 68 players nominated to just 10 finalists. Those who wish to vote may submit a ballot at HobeyBaker.com once every 24 hours.
 
On Feb. 13 vs. UConn, Roy also became the 34th player in program history to reach 50 career goals. Roy leads the Huskies with 44 points this season on 19 goals and 24 assists. He is eighth in the nation in total points, tied for 10th in goals and tied for 15th in assists.
 
Roy named National Player of the Month
Kevin Roy, who led the nation with 17 points during the month of February, was named the Hockey Commissioners' Association National Division I Player of the Month for February on Thursday.
 
This marks the second career HCA Player of the Month honor for the Lac-Beauport, Quebec native, who also picked up national accolades in October of 2013. He was also named the Warrior Hockey Player of the Month on Monday.
 
Roy potted eight goals during February, tops in the nation, and added nine assists to lead Northeastern to a 6-3-0 mark during the month. The 5-10, 170-pound winger logged points in all but one of his nine games in February, including multi-point efforts in six contests. Roy did most of his damage during a weekend set with Connecticut, scoring four goals in a 9-0 victory at Matthews Arena on Feb. 13, marking the first time a Husky accomplished the feat since the 2012-13 season. The following afternoon, he added three assists in a 6-1 win at UConn.
 
Hot Sauce
Since returning from injury on Nov. 7, Colton Saucerman has made his presence felt, especially at the offensive end of the ice. The Colorado Springs, Colorado native is tied for fifth on the team with seven goals this season.
 
All of Saucerman's goals have come on the power play, which is tied for eighth in the nation and makes him the only defensemen in the nation with at least six power play goals.
 
Platoon between the pipes
For the second straight season, Northeastern's opponents have gotten a look at two of the Huskies' top netminders early in the season. Redshirt senior Clay Witt started the team's first two games of the season before Derick Roy got the nod in six straight games. Roy responded by making a career-high 38 saves on two occasions against two of the nation's top teams (No. 6/4 Colgate on Oct. 18 and No. 6/7 UMass Lowell on Nov. 7).
 
Witt ranks second all-time at Northeastern in bothgoals against average (2.66) and save percentage (.919). He's also in sole possession of fourth on the NU all-time list in career shutouts (five) in 69 career games.
 
On Jan. 3 against St. Lawrence, Roy got his first start in nearly two months, and allowed a season-low two goals while making 21 stops en route to a 4-2 victory. In his last seven games, he's posted a 2.12 goals against average and .922 save percentage. In those games, Roy is 5-1-1 in those games, tied for the third most wins in the nation in that span.
 
Clay cementing his place among NU's greats
Clay Witt's 27-save performance against Connecticut on Feb. 13 moved him into fourth on Northeastern's all-time shutout list (five). Next on the list is Keni Gibson, who recorded seven from 2001-05.
 
Witt was named a nominee for the Mike Richter Award on Feb. 27, given annually to the nation's top collegiate netminder.
 
Let me help you
Clay Witt made 30 saves on Feb. 23 against Boston University, but also added an assist on Kevin Roy's third period goal to help NU mount a comeback. It marked the first time that a goaltender assisted on a goal since the 2011-12 season when Chris Rawlings had a helper at Notre Dame on Dec. 3, 2011.
 
Benning chipping in
In addition to his high minute total on the Northeastern blue line, sophomore defenseman Matt Benning has found the time to contribute in the offensive zone, as well. The St. Albert, Alberta is one of three defensemen in the nation with at least 24 assists this season. Benning has 19 assists in his last 20 games, and 14 in his last 13.
 
NU, Michigan State agree to three-sport deal
Northeastern and Michigan State have agreed to a three-sport, home-and-home series in 2015-16, as announced on Dec. 10 by Northeastern Athletics. The Huskies will host the Spartans in men's and women's basketball, as well as men's ice hockey on Dec. 18-19, 2015, before returning the games in East Lansing, Michigan, the following season.
 
"This is a very exciting opportunity for our athletic department," said Peter Roby, director of athletics and recreation at Northeastern. "We are thrilled and appreciative of Athletics Director Mark Hollis and our friends at Michigan State for their willingness to bring their teams to Boston and help us create such a fun weekend."