Durham, NH – UNH entered the night an improved team because of a goalie addition that made for competition at the position, and tonight it continued to improve. New Hampshire scored first at four minutes, nine seconds of the first period. Grayson Downing was the beneficiary of a Tyler Kelleher pass from slot to slot and Downing backhanded the puck over the glove of Jon Gilles, giving UNH the 1-0 lead. Eight minutes later, it was again Downing that made it 2-0 UNH but this time there was a little luck involved as the puck bounced up over the glove of PC goaltender, Jon Gillies and bounced right into the net. The two goals for Downing gives him 12 on the season and four in the last two games for UNH, all of its goals in those games. Providence answered a few minutes later on a power-play goal, by Noel Acciari to make it a 2-1 game.

Both teams played even hockey for the remainder, while both Jon Gillies and Dan Tirone put on a show for the few fans that came to the Whittemore Center on a cold Tuesday night. The 2-1 score held until the end and UNH picked up only its second win in Hockey East. Providence’s record falls 14-8-1 overall, 6-5-0 in Hockey East. UNH improves its record to 7-11-2, 3-5-1. The Wildcats are on a three game unbeaten streak, their longest of the season, and have not lost in regulation this half. In that time it has wins over Omaha and Providence College. Providence dropped consecutive games for the first time this season, as it lost to Brown on Saturday night.

See this line for highlights from UNH Athletics.

What I Saw

• Dan Tirone impressed everyone on press row tonight. He looked confident in the net and he competed on every Providence shot. His biggest asset is his speed in the net. He reminds me a lot of a smaller, faster Charlie Finn who plays for Colgate. He makes a lot of saves with his pads and has a knack of positioning them well for his defense to find the puck to clear it. His play suits UNH’s style really well and because of his ability to see the puck well, he was able to make many crucial saves for UNH. It was hardly what UNH was seeing in the first half from its goaltending.
• Providence looked flat at times and it was probably because it was coming off an emotionally draining rivalry weekend against Brown. Jon Gillies kept the Friars in it for long stretches, despite a mediocre start of the game. Neither of UNH’s goals were on him. All in all between him and Tirone, the fans saw one of the better goalie duals they will see all season.

What I Thought

• It cannot be easy to come in midseason like Tirone has. In postgame interviews, despite some jitters at first, Tirone looked comfortable and collected. Talking with the team, it seems as though UNH has rallied around the situation and used it as a driving force. It has made all the difference coming into the second half. For UNH it was the spark it may have needed after a lacksadasical first half that saw its season teeter on disaster. Dick Umile calls it a healthy competetion, and that is showing in UNH’s recent results.
• Providence probably wished this game had been played when it was scheduled, because tonight it saw a completely different UNH team than it would have seen in November. PC to me looks like it has topped off and hit its peak a little too early. For a team with so much promise, it really hasn’t performed. It has merely been just above average. Jon Gillies can still win them games, and he will. His presence will still make the Friars a team to beat going forward.

What They Said

Providence coach Nate Leaman said,

“I thought UNH was the better team tonight, they had a lot more jump. We had some great chances in the second period, where we had the most energy of the night. Tirone came up with some big saves and I thought Jonny kept us in the game.”

UNH freshman goaltender Dan Tirone said,

“I felt really good tonight. I am just getting more comfortable with each day. The team has helped me learn the ropes quickly, coming in. I am happy to get a win.”

When asked why he chose UNH over a UConn or a Quinnipiac, given he is from Connecticut… “Probably the success and the tradition here. That was important to me. Coach Umile has been here a long time. It is always what I wanted to look for in colleges. The track record here speaks for itself and I just wanted to be a part of it.”

On the competition between Adam and him, “We compete with each other and not against each other. Meaning that we both want what is best for the team. It is about just coming everyday and competing our hardest when we are in the net. We get along great off the ice. No matter who is net, it is about going out and getting a win as a team.”

What Else You Should Know

UNH has a huge opportunity in coming weeks to make up so ground in the Hockey East standings. It will play Umass and Maine in home and homes over the next two weekends. Those two teams mark the bottom two in Hockey East, with a combined overall record of 13-29-1.

Providence will have the weekend off before a huge weekend series against Umass-Lowell, next weekend.

Wednesday, January 14th, 2015 - 12:18 am | Blogs, Hockey East, Notes, Thoughts, Ramblings