Was it pure coincidence or something more intentional when the lights went out in overtime of a 3-3 game between UMass and UConn and the Huskies had a chance to win?
That’s the question UConn hockey fans may be asking themselves after the nation’s No. 13 team lost in a shootout to the Minutemen over the weekend, after play was halted by lights at Mullins Center.
UMass nearly scored with less than two minutes left in overtime when the puck flew out of UConn’s end, and the Huskies began rushing up the ice in the other direction.
While this was happening, the lights began to flash, and when Kai Gianferia crossed the blue line into the UMass zone, the red lights came on before the entire arena went black — forcing the officials to stop play.
UConn players were understandably frustrated when the lights came back on, with several players raising their arms and one slamming his stick onto the ice.
The lights issue appeared to stem from arena operations staff believing UMass had scored, leading to what appeared to be a goal celebration.
Previous highlights of the game showed a similar flash in the lights after several UMass goals.
The Minutemen ended up winning the game on penalties and getting an extra point in the standings.
Jack Moses scored the winning goal in the shootout and described the emotions inside the Mullins Center during the match as “surreal”.
“I’ve never heard Mullins that loud before, and I was a little scared before I even touched the puck because of the noise, but it was a great feeling after I saw the puck go in,” he told the Daily Collegian.