Leonard Nets OT Winner, Men's Hockey Earns Eighth Straight in 3-2 Win Over WNE

WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass.– Nolan Leonard's game-winning goal just 13 seconds into overtime lifted Suffolk to its eighth straight win with a 3-2 victory over Western New England on Saturday night at the Olympia Ice Center.

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 3 | Western New England 2
RECORDS: Suffolk (14-7-1, 13-3-1 CNE) | Western New England (5-18-0, 3-15-0 CNE)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Suffolk controlled the opening frame, outshooting WNE 27-4 and breaking through with just under five minutes remaining as Tommy Whitford's shot deflected off the goalkeeper, Gavin Havens redirected the puck, and Matt Pimental buried the rebound for the game's first goal.
• Despite heavy pressure from the Rams, WNE evened the score on a shorthanded tally as Matthew Fortin went coast-to-coast and buried his shot to make it 1-1 at the 7:46 mark of the second period.
• Suffolk regained the lead late in the frame as a delayed penalty created a 6-on-5 advantage. Jack Kircher sent the puck into the WNE defensive zone to Pimental, who slid a pass across the crease for Alex Ondos who finished top shelf, giving the Rams a 2-1 edge with just under three minutes remaining in the second.
• WNE capatilized on special teams', this time on the man advantage, as Bradyen Patricia converted from close range off feeds from Matthew Fortin and Everest Schneider with 4:04 remaining in regulation.
• The teams skated through the final moments of regulation scoreless, but the Rams would not be denied, lighting the lamp just 13 seconds into overtime as Nolan Leonard won the faceoff and buried the game-winning goal off feeds from Aidan O'Connell and Michael Gallagher.

NETMINDER NOTES

• Austin McNicholas stopped 18 shots in the contest.
• Luca Scaglione made 62 saves in net for the Golden Bears.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Pimental led the way, recording one goal and one assist each.
• Ondos and Leonard each scored one goal, with Leonard netting the game-winning goal.
• Whitford, Havens, O'Connell, Gallagher, and Kircher each registered one assist.
• Suffolk outshot WNE, 65–20.
• The Rams won 48 of 65 faceoffs, led by Scott McManus with 18 wins.

NOTEWORTHY

• The Rams pushed their win streak to eight games.
• Suffolk extended its unbeaten streak to eight contests, the longest stretch since Nov. 1-Dec.6, 2014.
• The blue-and-gold reached 14 wins in a season for the first time since the 1992-1993 season when the Rams won 15 games.
• Suffolk moved to 28-14-6 against the Golden Bears in the all-time series.
• The Rams improved to 11-7-5 versus WNE in West Springfield.
• Suffolk has now taken the last four meetings against the Golden Bears.
• Leonard recorded his sixth goal of the season and extended his point streak to four games, totaling two goals and four assists over that stretch.
• Ondos tallied his fourth goal of the season and has now posted a point in three straight contests, registering three helpers and one goal during the span.
• O'Connell secured his 10th assist of the season and has recorded an assist in back-to-back games.
• Gallagher collected his sixth handout of the campaign.
• Whitford notched his third assist of the season.
• Havens and Kircher each picked up their second helper of the year.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk returns to Porrazzo Rink for the home leg of the series tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 14, with puck drop set for 4:50 p.m.