Beanpot Championship Recap
After an exciting semi-finals, the Harvard Crimson and Northeastern Huskies faced off in the famous Beanpot Championship on Monday for the first time ever. With the Beanpot on the line, the two teams battled back and forth in front of an electric TD Garden crowd.
Both teams had some chances in the first period, but when the buzzer sounded, the game remained scoreless with Harvard leading the shot category 12-7.
Early on in the second period, a shot by Northeastern’s Sam Colangelo was saved by Crimson goaltender Mitchell Gibson. Gibson couldn’t control the rebound and Gunnerwolfe Fontaine cashed in to give Northeastern the 1-0 lead.
It only took a minute and 33 seconds for the Crimson to answer right back on the powerplay with a laser from Matt Coronato.
Nearly six minutes later, a shot from the point bounced and found Coronato again, who roofed it to give Harvard the 2-1 lead, his second goal of the game and 18th of the year. Continuing his chase for the Hobey Baker.
Early on in the third period, Gunnerwolfe Fontaine knotted it up with his second of the game, and that’s when the energy went to the next level.
Goaltenders exchange big saves. The action had the crowd on the edge of their seats. Coronato missed a goal by mere inches. It felt like the next goal would be the game-winner.
Extra time would be needed to decide a champion. Vinny Borgesi had the game on his stick with a breakaway in overtime, but Gibson came up with a huge save to keep the game going.
Shortly after Justin Hryckowian also had a prime scoring chance on Gibson, but the goaltender locked it down again.
Huskies goaltender Devon Levi had to join the OT party, shutting down a two-on-one, and then later coming up with a few huge saves at the buzzer.
For the first time in Beanpot history, the championship would be decided in a shootout.
In round one of the shootout, both goalies stood tall. In round two, Levi held strong while Aidan McDonough came up huge, scoring blocker side on his attempt.
Harvard’s Alex Laferriere needed to score to keep the game alive, but Devon Levi proved once again why he is arguably the best goaltender in the NCAA.
For the fourth time in five tournaments, the Northeastern Huskies reigned victorious, winning the Beanpot. This is the eighth Beanpot championship the Huskies have won.
The game ended with a 2-2 tie, but the shootout win gave the Huskies the extra point and the title.
Levi ended the night with 30 saves on 32 shots. Performing at a high level all tournament long has certainly caught the eyes of Hobey Baker voters and Buffalo Sabres fans everywhere.
Anthony Desher is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email acd5698@psu.edu.
