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University of New Hampshire Athletics
Senior forward Tyler Ward and the Wildcats hope to keep the power play going on Saturday night against Merrinack.
Photo by: China Wong
Insider Report: Powering Up
2/25/2022 3:22:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey, UNH Insider
Ward, 'Cats Heat Up on Power Play, Face Merrimack Saturday Night at Whitt
DURHAM, N.H. – One three-game stretch does not necessarily a trend make, University of New Hampshire hockey coach Mike Souza noted in his weekly press conference.
But there is this: The Wildcats have suddenly become more productive on the power play. That development could not have come at a much better time.
UNH is down to its last three regular season games, starting with a contest against red-hot Merrimack College in the Whittemore Center on Saturday night at 7, dubbed Game Show Night and presented by EnviroVantage.
Individual and group tickets for home games are available at www.unhwildcats.com and by calling the Whittemore Center Box Office at 603-862-4000. Under the school's COVID-19 regulations, all spectators, regardless of vaccination status, must wear masks at all indoor athletic events.
"It's crucial," said senior forward Tyler Ward, talking about the importance of having a potent power play, especially when it gets down to crunch time of a season. "In a one-game series, single knockout, you need your power play going. That can be the difference in a game. It's critical down the stretch here that we stay hot."
The Wildcats are not quite at the knock-out stage, but they're getting there.
They go into the weekend a couple of points ahead of Boston College for the eighth spot in the Hockey East standings. BC has played one fewer game than the Wildcats.
The eighth spot is important because the team that holds it will host the ninth-place team in a first-round game.
After this weekend, UNH will close out with a game at home against UMass Lowell on Friday, March 4 and then play at UMass Lowell the next night.
The Wildcats scored a season-high three power play goals last Saturday night in a nice bounce-back win at Maine. They lost the opener of the series 6-3 on Friday night.
For the first time this year, UNH has scored at least one power play goal in three consecutive games.
"When your power play is playing well, like Merrimack, there's a sense of confidence you're going to score goals or at least be dangerous on it," said UNH coach Mike Souza. "What that does for the overall confidence of the group is great, whether you're on the power play or not. You always know that it can get you back in a game or extend a lead, or whatever."
While UNH's power play success has gradually been improving, Merrimack's has shot up.
Consider this: The Wildcats now have 16 power play goals for the season and a 16.2 percent success rate with a man advantage.
Merrimack has 17 power play goals while putting up a 10-2-0 record in its last 12 games and is at 25 percent for the season. The Warriors have at least one power play goal in each of those 12 games.
"I don't think one weekend puts you there, but I know it's a good feeling to have the power play contribute to winning a hockey game," Souza said.
It certainly did on Saturday night at Maine when Ward, sophomore Nick Cafarelli and freshman defenseman Alex Gagne all scored power play goals.
Ward is the hottest of the Wildcats at the moment, skating with Cafarelli and senior forward Filip Engaras as the team's most productive line the last few games. Ward had a power play goal in each of the games at Maine and leads the team with three.
"Fil's a big body, he's strong, heavy on the puck and he can skate and he can shoot, just an all- around player," Ward said. "With Caf there now, he makes plays. He a skilled player and he sees the ice well. I think we've been talking on the ice, communicating, and we're getting some bounces, too. It's been nice and hopefully we can keep it going."
Ward has taken over the team scoring lead with seven goals and 16 assists for 23 points. He has three goals and five assists for eight points in the last three games. Engaras is 2-3-5 in the last three and Cafarelli is 3-2-5. Cafarelli had a single assist in his first eight games of the season.
"Tyler and Filip have always had good chemistry and I think adding Nick Cafarelli with them has helped," Souza said., "He's a smart player and has good skills and puck tenacity and is willing to protect the puck. I think he's helped those two guys a lot."
The Wildcats will see what they can do with Merrimack, which is challenging for the regular season championship. The Warriors are tied with Connecticut for third place and the two teams are just two-points behind UMass Lowell and Massachusetts, who go into the weekend tied for first.
Merrimack scored a couple of power play goals in five opportunities in a 5-2 win over UNH on Feb. 5 in North Andover, Mass. UNH had one power play goal in six chances that night.
THE ROAD AHEAD
· UNH faces Merrimack at home on Saturday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m., presented by EnviroVantage for Game Show Night.
· The Wildcats close out the regular season with a series against UMass Lowell.
· They are home for Senior Night and Fan Appreciation Night on Friday, March 4 at 7 p.m.
· They finish out the regular season with a game at UMass Lowell on Saturday, March 5.
· Every Hockey East game will be livestreamed for free on College SportsLive.
· All UNH games are also available on the Wildcat Sports Radio Network.
· Fans can purchase group and individual game tickets at UNHWildcats.com/Tickets or by calling the UNH Wildcats box office at 603-862-4000 (Monday-Friday, 10am-5pm).
· Fans must wear masks while inside the Whittemore Center.
Allen Lessels
@UNHInsider
Allen.Lessels@unh.edu
But there is this: The Wildcats have suddenly become more productive on the power play. That development could not have come at a much better time.
UNH is down to its last three regular season games, starting with a contest against red-hot Merrimack College in the Whittemore Center on Saturday night at 7, dubbed Game Show Night and presented by EnviroVantage.
Individual and group tickets for home games are available at www.unhwildcats.com and by calling the Whittemore Center Box Office at 603-862-4000. Under the school's COVID-19 regulations, all spectators, regardless of vaccination status, must wear masks at all indoor athletic events.
"It's crucial," said senior forward Tyler Ward, talking about the importance of having a potent power play, especially when it gets down to crunch time of a season. "In a one-game series, single knockout, you need your power play going. That can be the difference in a game. It's critical down the stretch here that we stay hot."
The Wildcats are not quite at the knock-out stage, but they're getting there.
They go into the weekend a couple of points ahead of Boston College for the eighth spot in the Hockey East standings. BC has played one fewer game than the Wildcats.
The eighth spot is important because the team that holds it will host the ninth-place team in a first-round game.
After this weekend, UNH will close out with a game at home against UMass Lowell on Friday, March 4 and then play at UMass Lowell the next night.
The Wildcats scored a season-high three power play goals last Saturday night in a nice bounce-back win at Maine. They lost the opener of the series 6-3 on Friday night.
For the first time this year, UNH has scored at least one power play goal in three consecutive games.
"When your power play is playing well, like Merrimack, there's a sense of confidence you're going to score goals or at least be dangerous on it," said UNH coach Mike Souza. "What that does for the overall confidence of the group is great, whether you're on the power play or not. You always know that it can get you back in a game or extend a lead, or whatever."
While UNH's power play success has gradually been improving, Merrimack's has shot up.
Consider this: The Wildcats now have 16 power play goals for the season and a 16.2 percent success rate with a man advantage.
Merrimack has 17 power play goals while putting up a 10-2-0 record in its last 12 games and is at 25 percent for the season. The Warriors have at least one power play goal in each of those 12 games.
"I don't think one weekend puts you there, but I know it's a good feeling to have the power play contribute to winning a hockey game," Souza said.
It certainly did on Saturday night at Maine when Ward, sophomore Nick Cafarelli and freshman defenseman Alex Gagne all scored power play goals.
Ward is the hottest of the Wildcats at the moment, skating with Cafarelli and senior forward Filip Engaras as the team's most productive line the last few games. Ward had a power play goal in each of the games at Maine and leads the team with three.
"Fil's a big body, he's strong, heavy on the puck and he can skate and he can shoot, just an all- around player," Ward said. "With Caf there now, he makes plays. He a skilled player and he sees the ice well. I think we've been talking on the ice, communicating, and we're getting some bounces, too. It's been nice and hopefully we can keep it going."
Ward has taken over the team scoring lead with seven goals and 16 assists for 23 points. He has three goals and five assists for eight points in the last three games. Engaras is 2-3-5 in the last three and Cafarelli is 3-2-5. Cafarelli had a single assist in his first eight games of the season.
"Tyler and Filip have always had good chemistry and I think adding Nick Cafarelli with them has helped," Souza said., "He's a smart player and has good skills and puck tenacity and is willing to protect the puck. I think he's helped those two guys a lot."
The Wildcats will see what they can do with Merrimack, which is challenging for the regular season championship. The Warriors are tied with Connecticut for third place and the two teams are just two-points behind UMass Lowell and Massachusetts, who go into the weekend tied for first.
Merrimack scored a couple of power play goals in five opportunities in a 5-2 win over UNH on Feb. 5 in North Andover, Mass. UNH had one power play goal in six chances that night.
THE ROAD AHEAD
· UNH faces Merrimack at home on Saturday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m., presented by EnviroVantage for Game Show Night.
· The Wildcats close out the regular season with a series against UMass Lowell.
· They are home for Senior Night and Fan Appreciation Night on Friday, March 4 at 7 p.m.
· They finish out the regular season with a game at UMass Lowell on Saturday, March 5.
· Every Hockey East game will be livestreamed for free on College SportsLive.
· All UNH games are also available on the Wildcat Sports Radio Network.
· Fans can purchase group and individual game tickets at UNHWildcats.com/Tickets or by calling the UNH Wildcats box office at 603-862-4000 (Monday-Friday, 10am-5pm).
· Fans must wear masks while inside the Whittemore Center.
Allen Lessels
@UNHInsider
Allen.Lessels@unh.edu
Players Mentioned
Sunday, March 08
Tuesday, March 03
Tuesday, February 24
Sunday, February 22