BOSTON -- The Northeastern Huskies and Providence Friars traded early goals in the second period as the visitors maintained their one-goal lead after 40 minutes of play at Boston's Matthews Arena, 2-1.
Huskies captain Vinny Saponari knotted things up at 1-1 at the 4:14 mark of the second period as he took the feed from junior Cody Ferriero and unleashed a wicked slapper past PC freshman Jon Gillies for his sixth goal of the season. The goal was created as the Essex, Mass. native burst from the penalty box after serving a holding call.
Providence was quick to jump back ahead as sophomore Ross Mauermann beat NU's Chris Rawlings between the wickets from a very bad angle near the goal line - his tenth strike of the season.
NU had its best chance to re-tie the game with 6:15 left in the stanza as rookie Mike McMurtry, who was placed into the top-line right wing spot in the "precautionary" absence of freshman classmate Kevin Roy, walked to the front of the net and was stopped on a backhander by Gillies.
Joshua Kummins covers Hockey East for SB Nation. Follow him on Twitter @JoshuaKummins.