Wildcats Tie Merrimack 2-2; Win Shootout to Earn Two Points

Saturday, January 23

North Andover, Mass.

4 PM

University of New Hampshire

3-8-2, 3-8-2HEA

Merrimack

2-7-1, 2-7-1HEA

OT 1

New Hampshire

Merrimack

Mike Robinson made 32 saves.

1/23/2021 10:09:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey

Box Score

Mike Robinson posts 32 saves.

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Junior defenseman Kalle Eriksson (Leksand, Sweden) and senior forward Patrick Grasso (Ankeny, Iowa) each scored in the shootout as the University of New Hampshire men's hockey team tied Merrimack, 2-2, and won the shootout, 2-1, to earn two Hockey East points.

Junior forward Tyler Ward (Kamloops, British Columbia) scored his first goal as a Wildcat to tie the game in the first period. Senior goalie Mike Robinson (Bedford, N.H.) made 32 saves and only allowed one goal in the shootout.

The Wildcats are now 3-8-2 and the Warriors are 2-7-1.

Score: New Hampshire 2, Merrimack 2 (OT-UNH wins shootout, 2-1)
Records: UNH (3-8-2, 3-8-2 HE), Merrimack (2-7-1, 2-7-1 HE)
Location: North Andover, Mass. (Lawler Rink)
Date: Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021

HOW IT HAPPENED

Regan Kimens flipped the puck to the back of the net at 6:23 to give the Warriors a 1-0 lead early in the first.
Ward tied the game, 1-1 at 15:09 as he wristed the puck to the bottom corner of the net for his first goal as a Wildcat. Ward received the puck at the blue line and skated to the slot and buried the shot. Freshman forward Nick Cafarelli (Middleton, Mass.) posted an assist on the goal.
Merrimack outshot UNH by a 9-8 margin in the first.The 'Cats went 0-1 on the power play.
At 14:12 of the second period, Merrimack's Max Newton rocketed a one-timer that gave the Warriors a 2-1 lead.
Grasso tied the game 2-2 at 19:27 on the power play. Grasso blasted a one-timer past Borgiel from junior forward Jackson Pierson (Zionsville, Ind.). Eriksson also posted an assist on the goal.
Merrimack outshot UNH, 13-8 in the second period. UNH went 1-2 on the power play.
At 15:24 in the third period, the 'Cats received a five-minute major and the Warriors went on an extended power play but the Wildcats were able to keep Merrimack from scoring to force overtime.
Eriksson and Grasso scored in the shootout for UNH as Chase Gresock scored for Merrimack. Robinson made a save on a shot by Kimens to clinch the shootout win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

Robinson made 32 saves while Zachary Borgiel recorded 21.
Merrimack outshot UNH 34-23.
The Wildcats went 1-3 on the power play and the Warriors went 0-1.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE

The last time the Wildcats won a shootout was versus North Dakota on Oct. 6, 2000.
UNH leads the all-time record against Merrimack, 78-27-12 and leads 28-14-8 at Lawler Rink.
UNH is 2-2-2 in overtime games this season.
Ward scored his first goal as a Wildcat.
Grasso now has 91 career points on 46 goals and 45 assists over 128 games. He is currently on a four-game point streak with two goals and two assists for four points.

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