Live: UNH vs. Merrimack

Welcome to the Whittemore Center, where the University of New Hampshire looks to avenge last night's loss to Merrimack, and regain the momentum of the 11-game unbeaten streak that ended with that defeat. UNH is also looking to stretch its Hockey East lead back to five points, with second-place Boston College idle this evening.

Stay tuned for updates throughout.

		WILDCAT GAMECENTER
January 30, 2010 - Whittemore Center - Durham, NH
UNH 4 - MERRIMACK 3 : OVERTIME/FINAL
UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE (13-8-4, 12-3-3)
LEFT WING	G-A-P	CENTER	G-A-P	RIGHT WING	G-A-P
Thompson	1-0-1	DeSimone	0-1-1	Butler	0-1-1
Sislo	1-2-3	LeBlanc	2-1-3	Moses	0-2-2
Burke	0-0-0	Borisenok	0-0-0	McCarey	0-0-0
Speelman	0-0-0	Manz	0-0-0	Henrion	0-0-0
LEFT D'MAN	G-A-P	RIGHT D'MAN	G-A-P	GOALIE	Saves
Kostolansky	0-0-0	Kessel	0-0-0	Foster	26
Campanale	0-0-0	Kipp	0-0-0	DiGirolamo	NA
Krates	0-0-0	Beck	0-0-0	Scott	NA
MERRIMACK COLLEGE (9-14-0, 6-10-0)
LEFT WING	G-A-P	CENTER	G-A-P	RIGHT WING	G-A-P
Barton	2-0-2	Da Costa	0-2-2	Velleca	0-0-0
Brodhag	0-0-0	Cucci	0-0-0	Todd	0-0-0
Jamieson	0-0-0	Madsen	0-1-1	Sheen	0-1-1
Flanigan	0-0-0	Bonitatibus	1-0-1	Robitaille	0-0-0
LEFT D'MAN	G-A-P	RIGHT D'MAN	G-A-P	GOALIE	Saves
Stollery	0-1-1	Bigos	0-0-0	Brathwaite	43
Allan	0-0-0	Bowen	0-1-1	Cannata	NA
Ross	0-0-0	Sadlowski	0-0-0	Drew	NA

*(Pregame) - UNH makes changes on the second, third and fourth lines tonight, moving Sislo to left wing from right; moving Moses from the third line to the second; moving Burke from the second to the third; moving Speelman from the third to the fourth; and giving Kevin McCarey ice time over Austin Block, The defense stays the same.

*(20:00) - We're underway at the Whitt.

*(18:27) - 1-0 UNH - That's just the start the Cats were looking for. Mike Sislo fired high after forcing a turnover, and when the puck sailed off the boards but popped right back out front Peter LeBlanc was able to shuffle a backhander into the net before Andrew Brathwaite could recover.

*(17:16) - Merrimack's strategy of dangling a forward in the neutral zone with hopes of creating a breakaway is more pronounced here on the bigger sheet of the Whitt than it was last night at Lawler Arena. When UNH is in its offensive zone the teams are basically playing four on four, since one of the Wildcat blue liners must hang back with the Warrior forward. It's a strategy last seen used in NHL 94 for the Sega Genesis.

*(11:29) - To this point, UNH has 10 shots on goal. Merrimack has ZERO.

*(10:31) - The Warriors get their first shot of the night, a Stephane Da Costa try from the top of the crease that was saved -- by defenseman Nick Krates. He was in the right place at the right time, sweeping an along-the-ice shot off the goal line.

*(6:43) - Play has evened out a little bit, with the Wildcats now holding a 14-5 edge in shots.

*(6:00) - Braithwaite keeps it a one-goal game with a nice glove save on LeBlanc in the low slot.

*(0:22.6) - Brathwaite robs LeBlanc again, this time with a nice pad stop as the UNH captain tried to complete a wraparound chance with an in-tight wrister.

*(0:00) - The period ends with UNH outshooting Merrimack 17-10, and enjoying several top-quality chances, but ultimately managing just a 1-0 lead.

*(20:00) - We're underway in the second, with something to keep an eye on. Last night Dick Umile was displeased with his team's ability to get pucks on net when given shooting opportunities. In the first period they had 28 attempted shots, but only 17 on frame (60.7 percent); Merrimack, by comparison, tried 14 and hit Foster with 10 (71.4 percent). The Wildcats need to be a bit more efficient.

*(18:17) - 2-0 UNH - This reconfigured second line is really playing well tonight. In the first period it generated a whole bunch of chances, including LeBlanc's goal, and it struck on its first shift in the second, too. Stevie Moses made the play this time, holding the puck in the slot to create space, then making what was nearly a no-look pass to Mike Sislo on the left faceoff dot. Sislo ripped a one-timer off the near pipe and into the net, never giving Braithwaite a chance.

*(15:17) - 2-1 UNH - Exactly three minutes later, the Warriors respond. Brian Foster made the initial stop, but Justin Bonitatibus was among the pack hacking at the rebound and he roofed it just inside the crossbar.

*(15:00) - A hush has fallen over the Whittemore Center after the Merrimack goal.

*(8:43) - Merrimack has had the better of the play in this period, owning a 7-4 edge in shots to this point.

*(6:40) - 3-1 UNH - LeBlanc might've been robbed a couple times earlier in the night, but Merrimack gave him one back right there. After Moses and Sislo got the puck to the front of the net, Warrior defenseman Pat Bowen whacked at it to send the rubber to the corner. Instead it fluttered right to LeBlanc, who knocked it down with his hand, and stuffed it into the empty side. Sislo and Moses got assists, but the set up really came from Bowen.

*(5:19) - The night's first penalty is called on UNH's Greg Manz, giving Merrimack a power play.

*(3:51) - 3-2 UNH - A good-looking power play results in a well-earned goal for the Warriors, Kyle Bigos fired from the right point and Chris Barton tipped it up and over Foster on the way to the cage, finding a corner and bringing Merrimack within one.

*(0:29.5) - LeBlanc gets mixed up with Da Costa in front of the Merrimack bench, and the dust up sends LeBlanc to the box for elbowing. This is a critical point in the game for UNH.

*(0:00) - They survive the first half minute, but will have 1:31 to kill off at the start of the third frame. Remember, last night that's portion of the game in which the contest was decided.

*(20:00) - We're underway, with UNH down a man for the first 91 seconds, in the third.

*(19:18) - 3-3 TIE - The Warrior power play strikes again. With Stephane Da Costa holding the puck between the circles Chris Barton set up all alone in front of Foster, and after Da Costa fed him there, Barton sticked his way easily around Foster and tucked it home. Merrimack is 2-for-2 with the extra skater.

*(18:40) - Shortly after the goal, Paul Thompson missed a chance he'll see in his sleep tonight. After Butler jarred the puck loose with a big hit at center ice, Phil DeSimone found Thompson during a 2-on-1. Braithwaite was on the other side, and Thompson had three quarters of the net to shoot at, but he still put it wide.

*(13:23) - UNH will get a five-minute power play. Kyle Bigos drilled Greg Burke from behind, and for that was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct. Burke left the ice under his own power, but went straight to the locker room -- firing his glove down the tunnel en route. He appeared to injure his left shoulder. UNH already lost Dalton Speelman for the night with an apparent shoulder injury.

*(11:23) - The first two minutes pass without a quality chance for the Cats.

*(10:56) - The first chance goes to Thompson after some tic-tac-toe passing from Kessel to Butler to DeSimone to Thompson, but Braithwaite slides over to make the stop.

*(9:23) - UNH is down to its last minute of the power play.

*(9:04) - Sislo can't bury a rebound chance at the left post.

*(8:23) - The five-minute man-advantage is over, and the Wildcats see a huge chance go by the board.

*(7:32) - Kevin McCarey is called for tripping in the offensive zone, and now UNH is shorthanded. They haven;t killed a penalty tonight.

*(5:32) - UNH survives the McCarey foul with a very good kill.

*(0:34.6) - We're down to the final seconds here, with Merrimack looking content to play for overtime and UNH not generating much in the offensive zone.

*(0:00) - Free hockey here at the Whitt. We're headed for overtime.

*(5:00) - The extra session has started.

*(2:50) - The pace early in the overtime is fast, with both teams looking for their chances.

*(0:51.5) - Sislo and LeBlanc both get hacks at a puck sitting in the crease, but Braithwaite and a host of teams all converge to cover the puck. That was the best chance for either side in this overtime.

*(0:11.1) - 4-3 UNH - How exactly the puck went in, only he probably knows. But amid a mass of bodies in the goalmouth Paul Thompson somehow swept the puck home, giving the Wildcats a HUGE win.