PC Friars Sweep Doubleheader Weekend in Vermont

PC News release…

BURLINGTON, Vt. – Providence senior Trevor Mingoia matched a career high with four points as the third-ranked men’s hockey team outlasted Vermont, 6-3, in a wild affair at Gutterson Fieldhouse on Saturday night.

Providence (15-3-4, 6-1-3 HEA) completed the two-game sweep and secured four critical Hockey East points, outscoring the Catamounts (9-14-2, 3-7-2 HEA) 9-4 over the two games.

Mingoia struck twice on the power play for the Friars, while linemate Mark Jankowski chipped in with two goals and an assist.  In total, five Friars recorded multi-point games on Saturday night.

Nick Ellis made 31 saves, including 16 in the third period to improve to 14-3-4.  Packy Munson turned aside 26 attempts from the Friars to fall to 5-4-0.

The Friars continued the theme of strong starts once again on Saturday night, as they notched a trio of goals against the Catamounts to open a 3-0 lead after 20 minutes.

Mark Jankowski picked up a turnover in the neutral zone and fed Trevor Mingoia, whose shot caromed of the pad of Munson and right out to Jankowski, who buried it into the open net at 3:58. 

Just 59 seconds later, Jankowski notched his second point of the evening with a faceoff win back to Anthony Florentino as the junior wired a wrist shot through traffic for his fifth goal of the season.  Providence continued to attack the Vermont zone, outshooting the hosts by a 16-6 margin in the opening period.

At 16:16, Mingoia re-directed a shot from Jake Walman for his third goal in as many games to put the Friars up 3-0.

The team got a scare a few minutes later as Walman took a heavy hit from Brady Shaw and took a few minutes to get to his feet.  Shaw was assessed a five-minute major for charging and a game misconduct on the play, but Walman returned on the ensuing power play.

A frantic second period saw six combined goals and a barrage of penalty minutes, including an ejection of Vermont Head Coach Kevin Sneddon.  Mingoia notched his second of the night on a breakaway after a beautiful stretch pass by Walman, but UVM finally got on the board five minutes later on Mitch Ferguson’s strike.

Providence answered right back just 21 seconds later on Tanev’s eighth of the season, cashing in on a wrister from the top of the circles.  With Craig Puffer in the box for a delay of game penalty, Jankowski nabbed his second tally to put the Friars up 6-1 at 9:25.  UVM responded with a pair of goals by Dan Senkbeil and Mario Puskarich to cut the deficit to 6-3 after 40 minutes.

Vermont amped up the pressure in the third and had an apparent goal waived off due to goaltender interference in the early minutes, but Ellis stood tall to make multiple banner saves to keep the Catamounts from inching closer.  Ellis’ best work of the night came as the Friars were killing a five-minute major, as he robbed Kevin Irwin point blank with the right pad.

Vermont came up empty with the extra attacker in the final minutes, as the Friars ran out the clock to secure their fifth consecutive win at Gutterson Fieldhouse.

Up next, the Friars will ready themselves for a home-and-home series against No. 11 UMass Lowell next weekend in a crucial Hockey East matchup.

HOW THEY SCORED

1-0 (PC) Goal scored by Mark Jankowski (Mingoia, Florentino): Putback off a rebound from Mingoia.

2-0 (PC) Goal scored by Anthony Florentino (Jankowski):  Wrister from the point through traffic.

3-0 (PC) Power play scored by Trevor Mingoia (Walman): Re-direct off a Walman shot from the point.

4-0 (PC) Power play goal scored by Trevor Mingoia (Walman, Gilmour): Breakaway deke to the forehand.

4-1 (UVM) Goal scored by Mitch Ferguson (Irwin, Coughlin): Rebound at the top of the crease.

5-1 (PC) Goal scored by Brandon Tanev (Pinho, Saracino): Wrister from the top of the slot.

6-1 (PC) Power play goal scored by Mark Jankowski (Mingoia, Gilmour): Wrister from the right circle.

6-2 (UVM) Goal scored by Dan Senkbeil (J. Privitera): Snap shot from the top of the circles.

6-3 (UVM) Power play goal scored by Mario Puskarich (Bradley): Re-direct from the right post off a shot from the point.

NOTES

Mingoia matched his career high in points, a mark he set at the season-opener in Miami … Mingoia also scored in his third consecutive game … John Gilmour and Jake Walman each posted two assists … Pinho now boasts a five-game point streak (2-7-9) … the teams combined for 80 penalty minutes … Jankowski recorded his fifth multi-point game this season Power Plays: Providence – 3/9, Vermont 2/7 … official shots on goal: Vermont 34, Providence 32 … Attendance: 3,704.?