Hockey Blanks Nichols, 3-0, behind Three-Point Nights from Obssuth and O'Leary and a Shutout from Oliver

EVERETT, Mass. – Senior Kevin Obssuth (Chester, N.J.) scored two goals and added an assist, senior Joey O'Leary (Boston, Mass.) had a three-point night with a goal and two assists, and sophomore Will Oliver (Chesterfield, Mo.) stopped all 19 shots he faced to record his second shutout of the season as the Wentworth Institute of Technology ice hockey team recorded a 3-0 victory over Nichols in Commonwealth Coast Conference action Saturday afternoon.

Obssuth's three-point game gives him five in the weekend series against the Bison and he now has recorded seven goals and three assists in his last five games.

THE BASICS:

RECORDS:  NC:  2-7-1 (1-7-0 CCC); WIT:  3-7-2 (2-5-1 CCC)
SHOTS:  NC:  19; WIT 30
PENALTIES/MINUTES:  NC:  10/20; WIT:  7/14
POWER PLAYS:  WIT:  1-9; NC:  0-6
GOALIE SAVES:  NC:  Korbinian Lutz, 27; WIT:  Will Oliver, 19

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The teams traded power-play opportunities in the early stages of the contest with both squads having chances to take the lead. At the 12:35 mark, Obssuth gave the hosts the only goal they would need, scoring from O'Leary and sophomore Josh Faussett (Okemos, Mich.). Obssuth had just come onto the ice after a Nichols power play expired. Faussett caused a turnover in the offensive zone and poked the puck to O'Leary, who hit Obssuth as he was streaking down the right side.
• Shortly after the ensuing faceoff, the Leopards nearly went ahead 2-0, however, sophomore Matt Smoliga's (Glenville, Ill.) shot hit the post and went out of play. Nichols had a chance to tie the game four minutes later but senior Curtis Carlson (Lakewood, N.Y.) had a shot hit the post while the Bison were on a power play.
• Penalties were the theme of the second period as the two teams combined for nine infractions for 18 minutes. Early in the frame Nichols had a 5-on-3 opportunity but managed to only get one shot on goal during this time. Wentworth also had a 5-on-3 power-play situation but were unable to capitalize.
• With 2:33 left in the period, Nichols went on its third power play of the period, however, the man advantage only lasted for 56 seconds before the Bison were called for a penalty. After a minute and four seconds of 4-on-4 time, the Black & Gold went on their fourth power play of the period, which lasted just four seconds before O'Leary broke up a pass in the neutral zone and sent the puck to freshman George Weiner (Wayne, N.J.), who found Obssuth along the left side to give the hosts a 2-0 lead.
• The Leopards held a 2-0 lead throughout the third period before Nichols pulled junior Korbinian Lutz (Munchen, Germany) for an extra attacker with 1:27 left to play. O'Leary sealed the win as he potted an empty-net goal, which was set up by Obssuth, completing both of their three-point nights.

SERIES NOTES:

• Tonight marked the 48th all-time meeting between the two teams with Nichols holding a 26-19-3 series advantage. Wentworth snapped a 10-game (0-8-2) winless streak in the series and picked up its first series win since February 13, 2016. The win was also the first home win in the series for the Leopards since February 2, 2012.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth closes out first semester play on Saturday, December 11, when the Leopards play host to nationally ranked University of New England.

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