Men’s Hockey Tripped Up in Overtime at Johnson & Wales, 3-2

PAWTUCKET, R.I. – Johnson & Wales scored two unanswered goals, the game-tying goal in the third and the game winner 1:21 into overtime to take down Suffolk men's hockey, 3-2, Saturday at Lynch Arena.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 2 | Johnson & Wales 3
RECORDS: Suffolk (6-11-2, 2-8-2 NEHC) | Johnson & Wales (4-15-0, 1-11-0 NEHC)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
After a scoreless opening period, Joseph Mortillaro lit the lamp 3:32 into the second period. The junior received help from Joe Feeney and Miller Rubin to put the Rams on the board.  

Johnson & Wales responded 2:08 later when Hunter Ross slipped the puck past Cal Wilcox to level the playing field at 1-all.  

The even scored held until Suffolk's second power play of the night. With Peter Costa in the box for hitting from behind, Devin Lowe capitalized on the opportunity with help from his linemates Shawn Montgomery and Nick Lachaine to push the blue-and-gold back in front, 2-1, at the 17:10 minute mark. 

Suffolk held onto its one-goal edge for the majority of the third period before the Wildcats picked things up with five minutes to go. JWU had a chance on its own man-up opportunity of the night, but Wilcox stood strong to keep the Rams ahead. It was not until Suffolk successfully killed its penalty that the hosts tied matters at 2-all when Matt Gulack found the back of the net with 2:33 remaining in regulation.  

JWU had another chance to go ahead when two Rams were in the penalty box with 47 seconds left on the clock in the third. The Wildcats had two chances, but both went wide, which sent the game into the extra session.  

 Suffolk started the OT with a disadvantage, skating 5-on-3. The Rams completed both penalties without giving up a goal, but 10 seconds later Jake Glod managed to poke the puck through to lift the Wildcats to victory.  

NETMINDER NOTES

• Wilcox registered 36 saves in the setback. 
• Mike Rockwell stopped 24 of the 26 shots he faced.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Lowe and Mortillaro scored Suffolk's goals. 
• Feeney, Lachaine, Montgomery and Rubin all had one assist. 
• Johnson & Wales outshot Suffolk, 39-26. 
• The Rams won the face-off battle, 39-32.  

NOTEWORTHY

• The Rams and Wildcats went into overtime for the first time since Feb. 8, 2018. 
• Suffolk played in its fifth overtime game of the season.  

POST-GAME PIC
 

WHAT'S AHEAD?
Suffolk remains on the road next weekend when it visits New England College Friday, Jan. 31 at 7 p.m., and Southern Maine Saturday, Feb. 1 at 4 p.m.