Jacob Micflikier tied his career high with five points on three goals and two assists and sixth-ranked New Hampshire netted five third-period goals to surge past No. 13 Massachusetts-Lowell, 8-3, Saturday night at the Whittemore Center.
With the River Hawks down 3-2 after two periods of play, Ben Walter tied the score at 2:43 to set up a potentially tight finish. But the Wildcats, who were outshot 25-17 through two stanzas, exploded for five unanswered goals to finish the evening.
Sean Collins gave the ‘Cats their third lead of the night, 4-3, with the assistance of Preston Callander and Brad Flashains at 5:34. Micflikier scored power-play goals at 7:45 and 13:07, the first a deflection of a Robbie Barker slapshot, to extend UNH’s advantage to 6-3.
Collins’ power-play goal at 18:45 put the ‘Cats in front 7-3 and Craig Switzer netted his first career goal with 22 seconds remaining to close the scoring.
UNH goalie Kevin Regan was credited with 28 saves and UML’s Peter Vetri stopped 28.
Micflikier gave UNH an early 1-0 lead with a power-play goal at 2:19 of the first period when, standing in the high slot, he turned a fired a screened shot into the net. Brian Yandle, with a pass from the right point, and Justin Aikins were credited with assists.
The River Hawks tied the score, 1-1, at 15:24 when Elias Godoy scored off his own rebound in front. Kelly Sullivan initiated the scoring sequence with a pass from the left point behind the net, where Mark Pandolfo made the centering pass to Godoy.
Danny O’Brien scored on a backhanded wraparound at the right post to give UML a 2-1 lead 40 seconds into the middle stanza. Yandle netted a power-play goal at 7:18 and struck again at 11:08 to put the Wildcats back in front, 3-2.
UNH went 6-of-11 on the power play and improved to 17-6-3 overall and 10-2-2 in Hockey East as the ‘Cats scored a season-high eight goals for the third time in the past six games. UML, which entered the game with a 14-game unbeaten streak, is now 15-6-3, 6-6-2.
