Game-day information: Game 27 vs. No. 5/6 Harvard
When	Monday, February 6, 5 p.m.
Where	Boston, Mass.  |  TD Garden  |  Directions
Broadcast and stats	WATCH: NESN / TSN2 Live Stats  |  Audio  |  Tickets
Notes and yearbook	Game Notes  |  2016-17 Media Guide
Huskies For Hobey	Vote Aston-Reese and Sikura for the Hobey Baker Award
Social media	WATCH: #RiseUpNU Download the new GoNU App: iOS  |  Android @GoNUmhockey  facebook.com/GoNUmhockey instagram.com/GoNUathletics  Use #GoNU and #RedBlackOnePack

BOSTON -- The battle for Boston's bragging rights is finally here, and the Northeastern hockey team will look to take the first step towards its fifth Beanpot title on Monday when the Huskies battle No. 5/6 Harvard at TD Garden.
 
Huskies vs. Crimson in the Beanpot
Northeastern and Harvard will be meeting in the Beanpot for the third time in four seasons, and 43rd time in tournament history. The Crimson lead the series, 23-20, while Northeastern has won four of the last five tournament meetings. Monday marks the 21st time that the teams will meet in the semifinal game, with Harvard leading that series 12-9.
 
Northeastern in the Beanpot semifinals
Entering the 65th annual Beanpot, the Huskies will be looking to return to the championship game for the 18th time in team history. Northeastern is 17-47 all-time in semifinal games, and 3-1 in the last four semifinal games. 
 
Madigan and the Beanpot
Northeastern head coach Jim Madigan played and coached in the Huskies' golden era of Beanpot success. Madigan has direct involvement with three of NU's four Beanpot championships, two as a student-athlete (1984, 1985) and one as an assistant coach (1988).
 
Madigan actually scored a goal in one of Northeastern's two victories over BU in the Beanpot, including the 4-3 victory on Feb. 8, 1983. Trailing 3-0, Madigan scored the Huskies' first goal, sparking a four-goal flurry for the win. As a head coach, Madigan is 3-5 in four seasons.
 
The all-time series with Harvard
Northeastern and Harvard will be meeting for the 102nd time in program history on Monday, with the Crimson holding a 65-36-0 advantage in the all-time series that dates back to 1941. The Huskies, however, have held the edge in recent years, winning six of the last seven meetings and eight of the last 11.
 
In last year's Beanpot consolation game with the Crimson, a three goal first period and a three-point night for Adam Gaudette set the tone for Northeastern in a 5-1 victory against No. 9/9 Harvard.
 
Scouting the Crimson
Harvard enters Monday's game riding a five-game unbeaten streak and with a 15-5-2 mark overall. The Crimson sit in third place in the ECAC standings with a league record of 11-4-2.
 
The Crimson have received a well-balanced scoring attack in 2016-17, with six skaters posting 20 points or more, led by Alexander Kerfoot with nine goals and 18 assists. In goal, Merrick Madsen has appeared in all 22 games, posting a 2.20 GAA and .918 save perc.
 
Recapping Friday's loss against UMass Lowell
Two goals apiece from Adam Gaudette and Matt Filipe were not enough for Northeastern, which saw No. 10 UMass Lowell score three times in the third period to skate to a 6-4 victory on Friday night..
 
The Huskies jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period with goals from Gaudette and  Filipe before Dylan Zink made it 2-1 after the first period. Gaudette netted his second power play goal of the game early in the second period to regain Northeastern's two-goal lead, but C.J. Smith and Jake Kamrass found the back of the net early and late in the frame to send the teams to the dressing rooms tied at three after two.
 
While shots were even at 10 apiece in the final frame, it was the River Hawks who capitalized on their opportunities, taking a 4-3 lead with a strike from Connor Wilson 8:49 into the third period. Filipe responded with his second of the game less than two minutes later to knot the game at four, but Ryan Dmowski and UML pounced on a Northeastern turnover with 5:49 to go to pot the eventual game-winner, and Kenny Hausinger added an empty netted in the final minute of the game to close out the scoring.
 
UMass Lowell outshot NU 26-24 in the game while the Huskies won 37-of-69 face-offs. Both teams, which entered the night with the top two power play units in the league, used its to its advantage with Northeastern going 2-of-3 and the River Hawks 1-of-2. Both Ryan Ruck and Tyler Wall had 20 stops between the pipes.
 
Stevens named candidate for Senior CLASS Award
Captain John Stevens has been named a candidate for the Senior CLASS (Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School) award, an honor given to senior student-athletes who excel in competition, community, character, and in the classroom.
 
"John is the epitome of what a captain is about in the characteristics he possesses," said head coach Jim Madigan. "He's a quiet leader, and at times quiet leaders are the most effective because they only speak up when there's something important to say. He leads on and off the ice and is always doing the right things. As a person, he has high expectations for himself. He goes about his life trying to be the best he can be and getting better each day as a student, a person and an athlete."
 
Stevens, a business administration major with a focus in finance, maintains a 3.263 grade point average in the D'Amore-McKim School of Business and was recognized in April as part of the Huntington 100, a group of Husky students who promote the school's ideals through exceptional academic performance. 
 
Hobey hopefuls
Zach Aston-Reese and Dylan Sikura, two of the highest scorers in the nation this season, have been named as candidates for the prestigious Hobey Baker Award, given annually to the top player in NCAA Division I men's ice hockey.
 
Fans will have the opportunity to let their voices be heard during the Hobey Baker fan vote, which opened on Wednesday and runs through March 5. To cast your vote for either player, visit HobeyBaker.com/vote. Fans can vote once per day on all devices. 
 
In select company
Zach Aston-Reese and Dylan Sikura's electric starts to the season is something rarely seen on Huntington Avenue. Their 44 and 46 points, respectively, points are already more than 30 Huskies' leading scorers reached in an entire season in previous years. Over the last five seasons in college hockey, only 12 Division I players have reached 40 points in their first 25 games. In addition, Aston-Reese is the only player to score 21 goals in his first 21 games over the last five years.
 
ZAR climbing up the ranks
Senior assistant captain Zach Aston-Reese has been one of Northeastern's go-to players during his career on Huntington Avenue. He has 22 career power play goals, which is the second most in the nation among active players, while his 12 game-winning goals are tied for third in the country. 
 
Overall, Aston-Reese has 129 points (57 goals, 72 assists) in 134 career games, which ranks in a tie for fifth in career scoring among active skaters nationally. He also became the 48th player in team history to reach 100 points earlier this season, and is currently 25th in career scoring at Northeastern.
 
Aston-Reese is the quickest Husky to reach 30 points in season (18 games) in the last 20 years.
 
40/40 Club
Zach Aston-Reese reached the 40-point plateau for the second straight season on Jan. 21. Since the 1956-57 season, only 17 Huskies have scored at least 40 points in consecutive seasons:
 
His performance this season has also given the Huskies a 40-point scorer in four straight seasons for the first time since 1991-92. 
 
His assist on Jan. 31 at UMass marked the 32nd time in program history that a Husky has scored 20 goals and record 20 assists in a season.
 
Streaking
Zach Aston-Reese (16 goals, 11 assists) had an 11-game point streak snapped on Jan. 20, the longest such streak for any Northeastern skater this season and also the longest streak of his collegiate career. 
 
Dylan Sikura had his nine-game point streak (eight goals, 10 assists) snapped two weeks ago, which was the longest of his career. He has points in 15 of his last 16 games, and 23-of-27 overall this season.
 
Filling the net
Zach Aston-Reese has been scoring goals at an alarming rate this season, and his 22 goals are already the most for a Husky since Wade MacLeod in 2010-11, while his 11 power play goals are the most for a Husky since J.F. Aube scored 13 in 1994-94. The school record for power play goals in a season is 14, held by Rod Isbister in 1984-85.
 
He is also one shorthanded marker away from tying the school record of four shorties in a season, held by Bryan Esner (2006-07) and Randy Bucyk (1982-83).
 
He is also one of just seven Huskies to score 20 in a season since 2000:
 
• 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
 
Talented triumvirate
Zach Aston-Reese (22 goals, 22 assists), Dylan Sikura (17 goals, 29 assists) and Adam Gaudette (17 goals, 24 assists) are all enjoying breakouts seasons, ranking in the top-seven in the nation in scoring.
 
Aston-Reese had hat tricks in consecutive games on Dec. 18 and Dec. 30, and is one of two players in the nation (T.J. Moore, Holy Cross) to record a hat trick in two straight games, and one of only four players in the country with multiple hat tricks this season.
 
The trio makes Northeastern the only team in the nation to have at least three skaters with 40 points or more. The three have also combined to make up half of the Huskies' total scoring this season.
 
40/40/40 Club
While Zach Aston-Reese and Dylan Sikura have given the Huskies a pair of 40-point scorers for the second time in as many seasons, having three skaters reach 40 points is much rarer. 
 
Enter Adam Gaudette. His 17 goals and 24 assists give Northeastern three 40-point scorers for just the 12th time in program history, and first since the 1993-94 season (Mike Taylor, Jordon Shields, J.F. Aube).
 
Sikura named Warrior Player of the Month
For the first time in his career, junior Dylan Sikura has been named the Warrior Player of the Month. Sikura was tied for first in the nation with 15 points in eight games during January on six goals and nine assists. 
 
His 1.88 points per game average led the country, as well as his eight points on the power play. Sikura closed the month with five-straight multi-point games, including three three-point nights, the most in the nation during January.
 
It just comes natural
Dylan Sikura is third in the country with 46 points this season, and tied for second in the nation with 29 assists in his first 27 games. 
 
The Aurora, Ontario native has at least one point in 23 of the team's 27 games this season. His 17 goals and 46 points in just 27 games are already more than his total from all of last season (36 games). 
 
On Jan. 27 at UMass Lowell, he scored three goals in the final 7:19 of regulation to lead the Huskies to a come-from-behind win, becoming the first Husky since Cody Ferriero on Dec. 29, 2012 at Harvard to score three goals in a period. The only other time it's happened since in the last 12 years was on Nov. 4, 2005 (Ryan Ginand vs. New Hampshire).
 
Sikura's third period performance was also the first natural hat trick for a Husky since Kevin Roy against Connecticut on Feb. 13, 2015. It's the fourth time that's happened since 2012 (Cody Ferriero, twice; Jan. 27, 2012 at Vermont and Dec. 29, 2012 at Harvard).
 
Good Gaud
Sophomore Adam Gaudette has been one of the top players in the nation this season, recording 17 goals and 24 assists in his first 27 games. It took him 41 games to reach 30 points last season. The Braintree, Mass. native had a five-game goal scoring streak earlier this season, the longest of his career. 
 
Most of Gaudette's damage this season has been done at home, where he's recorded 25 of his 41 points (10 goals, 15 assists). It's tied for the fourth highest home point total in the nation this season.
 
Veterans carrying the load
Northeastern, with 14 juniors and seniors on the roster, is tied for the ninth most upperclassmen on NCAA rosters this season. The two classes have combined for 152 points (55 goals, 97 assists) in the team's 27 games, which is sixth in the country. The 55 goals rank seventh in the nation while the 97 helpers are also seventh.
 
Get there early
After being held without a first period goal in its opening weekend series at Quinnipiac, Northeastern has potted 37 goals in the first period in the 25 games since, nearly matching their total in 41 games last season (40). 
 
NU's 37 goals in the opening frame are the third most in the nation. Of those 37 opening period goals, 24 have come at Matthews Arena.  
 
The straw that stirs the drink
While Zach Aston-Reese, Dylan Sikura and Adam Gaudette have received most of the praise for their work in 2016-17, it's been the under the radar play of captain John Stevens that has resulted in much of their success. Stevens provides the defensive work that allows the Huskies to transition up ice and has a strong ability to maintain puck possession in the attacking zone to distribute the puck to his linemates for scoring chances.
 
Stevens is averaging one point per game in a season that forced him to miss six games due to an upper body injury. He's also approaching 100 career points, and has 24 goals and 72 assists in 131 career games. Stevens has also reached that total without ever having recorded a multi-goal game in his collegiate career.
 
If he were to reach the century mark, it would be the first time since 2010-11 (Wade MacLeod and Tyler McNeely) that two Huskies reached 100 points in the same season.
 
In the 18 games with Stevens in the lineup the team is averaging 3.88 goals per game, while averaging just 2.7 in the six games he missed.
 
With class
Despite having one of the largest senior classes in the nation, the Huskies have received production from all four classes midway the season:
 
Class: G-A-P (National Rank)
Freshman: 15-29-44 (t-36th)
Sophomore: 28-41-69 (t-21st
Junior: 26-52-78 (12th)
Senior: 29-45-74 (t-11th)
 
Power up
NU is averaging 5.67 power play opportunities per game this season, the second highest in the nation, and have cashed in 41 times, the most in the country. Their two power play strikes on Friday night gave Northeastern at least 40 goals on the man advantage for the first time since the 2001-02 season.
 
Northeastern has also recorded at last one power play tally in the last 16 games. Eleven different Huskies have found the back of the net on the man advantage, including a team-high 11 from both Zach Aston-Reese and Adam Gaudette, the second most in the nation.
 
Cockerill keeping up
Junior Garret Cockerill plays in all situations for Northeastern, and is one of the team leaders in time on ice per game. This year, though, the Brighton, Mich. native has continued to chip in at the offensive end of the ice, and is fourth on the team with 25 points (six goals, 19 assists), a new career high and the most points for a Northeastern defenseman in 15 years. 
 
His 0.93 points per game are fifth in the nation, and third in Hockey East, among defensemen.
 
Get in front of it
A contributing factor to Northeastern's low shots against total has been the shot blocking abilities of the skaters in front of their own net. NU has blocked 419 shots in 27 games, a 15.52 average that ranks sixth in the nation. 
 
Garret Cockerill, meanwhile, leads the team with 59 blocks and an average of 2.19 that is 17th in the country and second in Hockey East. He had a career-high six blocks against New Hampshire at Fenway Park on Jan. 14.
 
Northeastern Athletics unveils #RiseUpNU
Northeastern Athletics, in partnership with The Nor'Easters, the university's premiere co-ed a cappella group, unveiled a collaborative music video the likes of which the Northeastern community has never seen before. The event, entitled 'RiseUpNU,' was held on campus at Blackman Auditorium Tuesday night.
 
The two groups joined forces with the Office of Alumni Relations to host Tuesday's event, which featured speaking portions from university administrators and Northeastern students, as well as a performance from the Nor'Easters before the unveiling of the stirring music video that puts the best of what the university has to offer on display.    
 
In the video, which can be viewed by visiting RedBlackOnePack.com, the Nor'easters cover the Grammy-winning Andra Day song "Rise Up," while footage of the per­formers and game footage from recent years are combined to tell a story rep­re­sen­ta­tive of the whole North­eastern community.