PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Senior
Will Redick (Collingwood, Ontario) scored the game-tying goal late in the second period, and classmate
Brandon Shantz (San Antonio, Texas) made 13 saves in the third period and overtime as Plymouth State University and Norwich University skated to a 3-3 tie in a thrilling Little East Conference (LEC) men's ice hockey game at Hanaway Rink on Saturday evening. Norwich earned the extra point with a 1-0 shootout win.
Junior
Will Pray (Prague, Czechia) gave Plymouth State the lead early in the first period. The second period featured five goals over a span of 3:11. Norwich pulled even but sophomore
Matt Hale (Center Harbor, N.H.) answered 24 seconds later. The Cadets responded with a pair of goals just eight seconds apart to jump into the lead, but Redick's power play tally knotted the score at 3-3 with 3:59 left in the stanza.
That would prove to be the final goal of the game, as the third period featured up-and-down action and highlight reel goaltending on both sides. The Panthers had several chances in overtime, including a breakaway and a penalty shot, but the Norwich goalie held strong.
Norwich converted its second attempt during the shootout, while the Cadets' netminder made three straight saves to secure the extra point.
Plymouth State moves to 9-8-1 (6-4-1 LEC), while Norwich, which is receiving votes in this week's USCHO.com poll, goes to 11-5-2 (8-2-1 LEC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 3, Norwich 3 (Norwich wins shootout, 1-0)
- Plymouth State (9-8-1, 6-4-1 LEC)
- Norwich (11-5-2, 8-2-1 LEC)
How it Happened:
- The Panthers got out to a quick start as senior Brendan Doyle (Stratham, N.H.) flipped a centering feed to Pray, who was alone in the slot. Pray fired to the top left corner for the early lead.
- PSU generated strong zone time during a power play chance late in the frame but was unable to convert as the Panthers maintained a 1-0 lead into intermission.
- Redick nearly doubled the Panthers' lead on a wrister from the right circle six minutes into the second, but his shot rang the pipe.
- Things went back-and-forth late in the period. Norwich pulled even with 7:10 left in the period with a tap-in at the back door, but Hale answered 24 seconds later when he flipped the puck over the Norwich goalie's glove to make it 2-1.
- The Cadets responded, using a pair of goals in an eight-second span to jump into the lead. Norwich tied the game on a 4-on-2 break, then won the ensuing faceoff and used three quick passes to find an open shot on the far post for a 3-2 lead with 5:14 left in the period.
- Redick had the answer with a power play strike just over a minute later when he tucked a shot from the right circle inside the left post to even the game at 3-3, setting the table for a dramatic third period.
- Shantz went post-to-post to make a huge stop on the penalty kill with less than nine minutes remaining in regulation and PSU's penalty kill unit came up big again in the final minutes to send the game to overtime.
- Shantz made a sprawling save early in the extra session, getting a piece of the puck with his glove, then kicking it away to keep the Cadets off the board.
- The Panthers dominated the rest of the overtime period, generating an 8-2 shot advantage, but the Norwich goalie made a huge save on a breakaway chance, then again on a penalty shot to send the game to a shootout.
- Norwich converted its second attempt, while the Cadets' goalie made three strong saves to secure the extra point.
By the Numbers:
- Redick scored his 10th goal of the year to extend his points streak to six straight games.
- Freshman Étienne Tremblay-Mathieu (Québec City, Québec) posted his 13th assist of the season – second most on the team.
- Plymouth State owned a 42-29 shot advantage, including a 15-3 edge in the opening period.
- The Panthers went 1-for-3 on the power play, while Norwich was 1-for-4.
- Shantz finished with 26 saves, while his counterpart made 39 stops.
- Plymouth State blocked 18 shots, including seven between the third period and overtime.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State visits WestConn for a league game next Friday (Jan. 30) at 6:30 p.m.
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