AMHERST -- No deficit is too big for the University of Massachusetts hockey team. Trailing three separate times, including a 3-0 hole, in Game 1 against New Hampshire in the Hockey East quarterfinals, No. 3 UMass (27-8-0) erased all three and defeated the Wildcats (12-14-9) 5-4 in double overtime. Mitchell Chaffee scored the game-winner for the Minutemen, redirecting a Ty...
AMHERST -- No deficit is too big for the University of Massachusetts hockey team.
Trailing three separate times, including a 3-0 hole, in Game 1 against New Hampshire in the Hockey East quarterfinals, No. 3 UMass (27-8-0) erased all three and defeated the Wildcats (12-14-9) 5-4 in double overtime.
Mitchell Chaffee scored the game-winner for the Minutemen, redirecting a Ty Farmer point shot 5:52 into the second overtime period, giving UMass the 1-0 series lead.
"Ty had a good shot and I kinda found my way for a tip," Chaffee said. "Luckily it went through. I didn't see it go in at first but as soon as I saw it went in of course I was pretty happy about it."
Eight different Minutemen recorded points in the come-from-behind victory, with Bobby Trivigno and Jacob Pritchard leading the way with three points each, while Philip Lagunov and Jake Gaudet recorded two points.
"Playoff hockey...you just don't win easily," coach Greg Carvel said. "It's tough to be down 3-0 in a game that you think you're playing well. It seemed like every time UNH got a rush up the ice they scored, to get ahead 3-0."
Matt Murray started the game for UMass but didn't finish it as the sophomore netminder allowed three goals on 11 Wildcat shots.
Filip Lindberg stepped in and was an immediate calming presence.
"When you come into the game cold like that it's definitely tough and I think (Lindberg) did a great job," Trivigno said. "I think that gave us a lot of momentum moving forward."
Lindberg made 13 saves in just over 52 minutes of action. Carvel confirmed Lindberg will start Game 2.
UMass concluded the night with 53 shots on goal in the five-period game. The Wildcats ended up with 28.
"Very proud of my team," Carvel said. "Very resilient, even down 3-0 I don't think any of us felt the game was out of reach. We just needed to break the ice."
The Wildcats scored the first goal of the game on Brendan Van Riemsdyk's wrister from the high slot 57 seconds into the second period.
Less than a minute later, Angus Crookshank doubled the lead for UNH on a wacky bounce that hit off Makar's skate and over the goal line.
From then on the Wildcats were in control while the Minutemen were on their heels.
About halfway through the middle frame, it became 3-0 UNH on Chris Miller's shot just inside the near dot, beating Murray off the rush once again.
Filip Lindberg immediately replaced Murray following the third Wildcat goal.
With just under a minute left, Jacob Pritchard threw a spin-around shot on goal and the puck found Trivigno's skate and flew into the net. Trivigno's 10th goal cut it to a 3-1 game at 19:05.
UMass used the momentum into the third period and about a minute in, Pritchard banged in a loose puck just off the near post, following a Trivigno stuff-in attempt, cutting it to 3-2.
The Wildcats appeared to have scored the back-breaker 5:18 into the third on Miller's second of the night to make it 4-2, but Trivigno stepped up again for the Minutemen.
All alone in front, the freshman forward received a picture perfect pass from Pritchard and Trivigno made no mistake. His second of the game, and third point of the night, brought UMass back within one.
In the middle portion of the period, the Minutemen earned an offensive zone faceoff. Jake Gaudet stepped in and won it cleanly back to Makar along the point and after a couple shoulder-shimmies, the Colorado Avalanche draft pick ripped a wrist shot past Robinson's blocker to tie it at 4-4.
The deadlock would hold until the end of the period sending this one to extra time.
In the first overtime, the Minutemen threw 15 shots on goal, but couldn't solve Robinson. It only took three shots in the second overtime period to produce a winner.
Chaffee's deflection counted as his 17th goal of the season and first collegiate overtime game-winner.
"We kind of know that after that long time in overtime, it's not going to be some pretty goal," Chaffee said. "You need to go to the front of the net and that's where the puck ended up."
Both teams are back in action Saturday at Mullins for Game 2.