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DURHAM, N.H. – Three point nights from Zach Aston-Reese (two goals, one assist) and John Stevens (one goal, two assists) were not enough as New Hampshire (11-8-2, 6-2-1) scored the game's final four goals, including three in the third period, to come back and knock off the Northeastern men's hockey team (7-10-4, 1-8-2) on Thursday night at the Whittemore Center, 5-3.
 
Aston-Reese and Stevens both scored in the opening frame to give the visitors the early edge before UNH cut it to 2-1 on a goal from Brendan van Reimsdyk eight minutes into the game. The teams exchanged goals during the middle frame with Aston-Reese potting a power play tally before Jason Salvaggio brought UNH back within one through 40 minutes of play.
 
The third period was all UNH, which netted the equalizer with 6:37 to play on a goal from Patrick Grasso before Marcus Vela put New Hampshire up for good with 2:04 remaining in regulation. Grasso would add an empty netter in the final minute of the game.
 
Aston-Reese extended his point streak to 10 games on Thursday, and has 15 goals and eight assists in that span. He also netted his team-leading 20th and 21st goals on the evening, the most in the nation. He is one of just seven Northeastern players to score 20 goals in a season since 2000.
 
Northeastern outshot the Wildcats 32-30 in the game, while Ryan Ruck made 25 stops in goal. Danny Tirone had 29 stops at the other end. NU was also 1-of-2 on the power play while the penalty killing unit held UNH off the scoreboard on its lone opportunity on the man advantage.
 
Goal descriptions:
• Northeastern drew first blood less than five minutes into the contest when Aston-Reese netted his 20th goal of the year. With NU transitioning up ice, Garrett Cecere sent the puck up to John Stevens. Stevens then carried it into the neutral zone before tossing a backhand pass to his left to Aston-Reese entering the zone. Aston-Reese skated towards the cage as Tirone caught an edge and went down prematurely, allowing Aston-Reese to rip it home for the score.
 
• The Huskies struck again three and a half minutes later on Stevens' third of the year. After Aston-Reese flung a pass up to Eric Williams on the right side, Williams attacked the zone and saucered a pass to a cutting Stevens, who redirected home at the far post to extend the NU lead to two.
 
• New Hampshire answered just 10 seconds after the Stevens tally with van Riemsdyk potted his fifth of the season. Off the ensuing faceoff following the NU goal, Dylan Maller fed the puck up to Liam Blackburn entering the zone down the right side. Maller waited for van Riemsdyk to join the rush before tossing a pass across the grain to him, and van Riemsdyk sent a shot over the shoulder of Ruck to make it 2-1.
 
• Northeastern cashed in on the power play six minutes into the second period on Aston-Reese's second of the evening. After NU kept the puck in the attacking zone for nearly 90 seconds, UNH got possession and tried to clear, but Stevens crashed the net to break up the clear and regain control. He then dished to Aston-Reese in the slot, who fired it past Tirone shortside.
 
• The Wildcats made it a one-goal game once again near the midway mark of the second period when New Hampshire caused a turnover in the defensive zone before bolting up ice three-on-ice. Michael McNicholas poked the puck off a Husky stick and headed up ice before centering a pass over to Salvaggio for the tap in past Ruck and his 14th of the season.
 
• New Hampshire leveled the score at three with 6:37 remaining in regulation on Grasso's 13th goal of the season. Out of the media timeout, Liam Blackburn won a face-off back to Grasso atop the left face-off dot. Grasso then quickly settled the puck before sniping a wrist shot top corner to make it 3-3.
 
• UNH took its first lead of the night with 2:04 to play in regulation on Vela's second of the year. With UNH moving the puck around the attacking zone, Matias Cleland took a pass from Shane Eiserman before sending a low shot in on goal. Vela, stationed between the hashmarks, got a stick on the shot to redirect it through Ruck to make it a 4-3 game.
 
• With Ruck pulled in favor of the extra skater, Grasso got possession of the puck in the neutral zone and sent a shot from the right side into the empty net for the insurance marker with less than a minute to play.
 
Stats of the game:
• Northeastern is now 62-97-15 all-time against New Hampshire.
 
• Aston-Reese moved into 26th place on Northeastern's all-time scoring list with 122 points (56 goals, 66 assists). He also moved into sole possession of 29th on NU's all-time goals scored list.

• Aston-Reese leads the nation in goals scored (21), goals per game (1.00), power play goals, (10), shorthanded goals (three) and hat tricks (two). He is just the seventh Husky since 2000 to score at least 20 goals in a season:
            • Zach Aston-Reese (21) in 2016-17
            • Nolan Stevens (20) in 2015-16
            • Braden Pimm (20) in 2013-14
            • Wade MacLeod (22) in 2010-11
            • Ryan Ginand (20) in 2008-09
            • Chris Lynch (20) in 2001-02
            • Mike Ryan (24) in 2001-02

• Aston-Reese's power play goal was his 10th of the season, the most since Wade MacLeod in 2010-11. Northeastern's 29 goals on the power play this season are the most in the nation.
 
• Aston-Reese also extended his point streak to 10 games, the longest of his career. He has 15 goals and eight assists in that span.

• Stevens tied a career-high with three points on the evening (one goal, two assists), and has five points (one goal, four assists) in his last two games.

• Dylan SIkura's nine-game point streak, the longest of his career, was snapped on Thursday. He had eight goals and 10 assists in that span.
 
• Northeastern's two first period goals give them 29 first period goals on the season, tied for the third most in the nation.

• The Huskies' penalty killing unit is now tied for sixth in the nation this season (91-of-104; 87.5%), and hasn't allowed a power play goal in five of the last seven games. They've also held their opponents to one goal or fewer on the man advantage in 19-of-21 games this season.

• Northeastern fell to 48-4-3 when leading after two periods over the last four seasons. Thursday was NU's first loss of 2016-17 when holding the lead through two periods.
 
The road ahead:
• The two teams will meet again on Saturday night as part of Capital One Frozen Fenway at historic Fenway Park. Puck drop is slated for 5 p.m.