Merrimack Upsets Top-Seeded Men’s Hockey 3-2 in Overtime Quarterfinals
Saturday at Schneider Arena in Providence, eighth-seeded Merrimack defeated top-seeded Providence, 3-2, in overtime. The upset ended the Friars’ run in the Hockey East quarterfinals on March 14.
Game recap
Providence opened with two early power plays but failed to score. The Friars registered nine shots during those chances.
Junior captain Graham Gamache struck first at 13:49 of the opening period. Sophomore Just Mustard redirected a feed from the left circle for Gamache’s third goal of the season.
Merrimack tied the game late in the first on the power play. Ethan Beyer carried the puck to Parker Lalonde, who set up Nathan King for a one-timer at 18:45.
Third period and overtime
Late in the second, Providence’s Kale McCallum received a five-minute major and a game misconduct for kneeing freshman Justin Gill. Merrimack converted the extended man advantage early in the third.
Nolan Flamand scored 49 seconds into the final period. His wrister from the right circle slipped between Jack Parsons’ pads for a 2-1 lead.
Providence answered with Just Mustard’s 16th of the year at 16:44 of the third. A sequence from freshman Roger McQueen to Quinn Mantel led to Mustard’s redirect over Max Lundgren.
In overtime, Hoskins finished off the Warriors with a left-point wrister off the post. The shot found the net for his 13th goal of the season.
Key statistics
Jack Parsons made 27 saves for Providence. Max Lundgren stopped 34 shots for Merrimack.
- Final shots: Merrimack 30, Providence 36.
- Power plays: Merrimack 2-for-3, Providence 0-for-3.
- Faceoffs: Providence 32-of-63 (.508), Merrimack 31-of-63 (.492).
Individual notes
Mustard led Providence with a two-point night. Gamache also scored for the Friars.
Merrimack received goals from Nathan King, Nolan Flamand, and Hoskins. Lundgren delivered a game-high 34 saves.
What’s next
Providence will learn its NCAA Tournament fate on Selection Sunday. The announcement airs March 22 at 3 p.m. on ESPNU.
Reporting for Filmogaz.com.
