NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Backstopped by a 30-save shutout from first-year
Kyle Chauvette and a goal by junior
Tyler Watkins in the fourth round of the shootout, the Union College men's hockey team picked up key ECAC Hockey points in a 0-0 draw at Yale University Saturday night at Ingalls Rink.
Tonight's game marked the first conference start for Chauvette and his first collegiate shutout. The Goffstown, N.H. native moves to 1-2-1 on the season.
While the game officially goes down as a tie, Union's shootout win (8-13-2, 3-8-1 ECACH) gives them two ECAC Hockey points. Yale (3-10-4, 2-8-2 ECACH), earns a point in the shootout loss.
Special teams played a big part in this matchup, with Union going 8-for-8 on the penalty kill and 0-for-4 on the powerplay. Over 12 minutes in the third period was spent on either the powerplay or on the penalty kill.
In a defensive matchup, Union blocked a season-high 27 shots with junior
Nathan Kelly leading the way with a career-high six blocked shots.
The first period was a scoreless back-and-forth battle between the two teams. First-year
Nate Hanley had a great scoring chance on a breakaway, but Yale netminder, Luke Pearson, made a pad save. The Dutchmen outshot Yale 9-5 in the opening frame.
The scoreless deadlock continued in the second period. Yale closed the gap in shots on goal, but Union held a 19-18 edge going into the final stanza. Chauvette made several big stops in the period, including two back-to-back saves that sent him across the crease.
Junior
Liam Robertson initially scored with 3:34 to play, but a successful challenge by Yale head coach Keith Allain saw the goal erased and Union go on the penalty kill. A penalty by Yale with 1:26 to go saw both teams carrying penalties into the overtime frame.
Chauvette made three big stops in overtime to force the shootout. The first two shooters for Union hit the post and Pearson made a pad save on a shot by first-year
John Prokop in the third round. Watkins' shot initially went off the crossbar, but rebounded off of Pearson and in for the goal. Chauvette stopped all four shots in the shootout.
Pearson is now 2-1-4 after making 23 saves in the tie.
Union is back home on Friday with a conference matchup with St. Lawrence University. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at Messa Rink.
