Muldowney’s Hat Trick Sends UConn to Hockey East Final

BOSTON — Joey Muldowney propelled the University of Connecticut to a resounding 5-2 victory over Boston University Thursday night in the Hockey East semifinals at TD Garden, completing a stunning upset that earns UConn a berth in the championship game.

The sophomore forward netted a natural hat trick, scoring three consecutive goals to lead the Huskies, who advanced to the Hockey East championship for only the second time in program history and the first since 2022. UConn, with a record of 22-10-4, has already secured its first NCAA tournament berth thanks to its standing in the PairWise rankings.

Muldowney’s first goal came just over eight minutes into the second period, where he showcased his skills by backhanding a rebound into the net while positioned behind the goal line. This remarkable effort gave the Huskies a 3-1 lead, and Muldowney expressed his excitement, saying, “It’s definitely pretty cool. Honestly, though, it felt just like another game. It’s just become a habit, and it’s pretty awesome.”

UConn coach Mike Cavanaugh praised his team’s performance, stating, “That stretch in the second period, in the first 10 minutes, I thought that was probably some of the best hockey we’ve played all year.” The Huskies were unstoppable that night, scoring three unanswered goals in a dominating second period.

Ryan Tattle also made a significant contribution, scoring a goal that pushed UConn ahead 2-1. Tattle received an exceptional backhanded pass from Jake Richard, who ended with four assists on the night. Richard commented, “All I heard was Tattle screaming for the puck, and I kind of just threw it there. He was able to catch it nicely. Great finish.”

The scoring began with a goal from Tristan Fraser, who found the net less than a minute into the second period. Fraser’s goal tied the game at 1-1 after Boston University opened the scoring with a power-play goal by Quinn Hutson late in the first.

During the match, UConn goalie Callum Tung delivered a stellar performance, making 25 saves, including a crucial pad save against a one-timer from BU’s Cole Eiserman in the third period. Tung has emerged as a key player for the Huskies, having made 13 starts this season.

B.U. struggled to regain control after falling behind. Coach Jay Pandolfo reflected on the game, acknowledging that UConn outplayed his team: “That was a good, old-fashioned butt kicking. They wanted it a heck of a lot more than we did,” he remarked. The Terriers (21-11-4) had hoped to secure their first Hockey East tournament title since winning in 2023.

Muldowney capped off his hat trick with an empty-net goal in the final moments of the game, followed by BU’s Kamil Bednarik scoring a consolation goal with just 10 seconds remaining. Muldowney’s performance was highlighted by the skill and determination of the Huskies, who have now gone nine games without a loss as they prepare for the championship against Maine on Friday evening.