Around the W: Northeastern kills penalties by scoring, takes Hockey East lead

Hockey East's women's race started with a forward killing penalties by scoring on them, and that's the most Northeastern thing that could have happened. The Huskies already lead the league, and they did it the hard way.

Northeastern's opener: two shorthanded goals, 88 seconds apart

Stryker Zablocki scored both goals in Friday's 2-0 win at Providence, and both came while Northeastern was a player down.

The first was a steal near her own blue line and a breakaway. The second was a toe drag in the circle and a centering pass that went in off Providence goalie Mallory Hartl's skate. By our count, they came 88 seconds apart in the second period. Lisa Jönsson stopped all 26 shots in her first start of the season.

"Instead of trying to go through players, she was going by players and that's when she's at her best," coach Dave Flint said.

The W read: a team that scores on its penalty kill doesn't need its power play to be perfect in October.

Northeastern 6, New Hampshire 3

The Huskies came home Sunday and put six on UNH at Walter Brown Arena, with three in the third period to pull away. That's 2-0 in Hockey East and six conference points, top of the table.

The W read: the season-opening overtime loss to RPI is already a footnote.

Providence answers at Conte Forum

The Friars lost Friday, then went to Boston College on Saturday and won 3-2 in overtime. They jumped out 2-0 in the first, let BC tie it with a goal in each of the next two periods, and still won it in overtime. Hartl made 30 saves in Friday's loss, which says she's ready for a heavy season.

The W read: winning in Chestnut Hill after blowing a two-goal lead is the kind of game a team remembers in February.

BU grinds out five points, and Watchorn gets 50

Boston University won a shootout at New Hampshire on Friday after a 4-4 tie, then came from behind at Holy Cross on Saturday. Lo Lachapelle tied it early in the third, and captain Neely Nicholson won it on the power play with under five minutes left.

It was Tara Watchorn's 50th win as a college head coach. Sydney Fogu held the Crusaders to one goal after they led on shots through two periods.

The W read: five points from two road games that both needed a comeback is a good weekend, not a great one.

Vermont backs up its ranking

The Catamounts entered the USCHO poll at No. 15 last week and then swept Franklin Pierce on the road, 2-1 and 4-0. That makes them 3-1-0 before their Hockey East schedule starts.

The W read: Vermont's real test is the conference slate, and the early record buys some patience.

Elsewhere: Syracuse stuns Penn State

Outside Hockey East, Syracuse beat No. 4 Penn State 5-4 in overtime on Friday, and Penn State answered with a 4-0 win on Saturday. And Ohio State swept No. 1 Wisconsin, which we covered on Sunday.

The W read: the top of the poll is going to look different this week, and Penn State has already shown it won't stay down long.