BOSTON -- In the back half of a crucial Hockey East weekend series on Saturday night, the Northeastern Huskies and Vermont Catamounts skated to a scoreless first period at Matthews Arena in Boston. Despite a slower start on both sides, the home team poured things on in the latter stages and took an 12-4 shots on goal edge into the intermission.

The Huskies got their best chance of the period just over halfway through as rookie Ryan Belonger found iron off a corner feed from senior Steve Morra, but UVM rookie Brody Hoffman and the pipe teamed to make the stop and keep things scoreless.

On UVM's second power play in the final three minutes of the period, sophomore defender Michael Paliotta's shot from the point was tipped through a screen and just wide of NU senior Bryan Mountain's goal.

Hoffman, who remains the nation's only rookie goaltender to make the start in each of his team's games this season, was greatly tested with 12 on-target chances.

Joshua Kummins covers Hockey East for SB Nation. Follow him on Twitter @JoshuaKummins.