NORTHFIELD, Vt. – For the second day in a row, junior goalie Drennen Atherton (Winter Haven, Fla.) and the Norwich University men's ice hockey stymied the Plymouth State offense en route to a 2-0 victory at Kreitzberg Arena. 

Atherton remained perfect on the season, stopped a season-high 30 shots to pick up his fourth consecutive shutout. He has saved all 99 shots he faced so far this season. 

Norwich (5-0) won its fifth straight game to open this season and stretched its winning streak dating back to last season to 16 straight games, as well as unbeaten streak of 23 straight. 

After a tightly-contested first 40 minutes, the Cadets finally broke through at the 6:29 mark of the third period with a goal by junior Michael Green (Montreal, Quebec). Just three seconds after a power play expired, Green ripped a slap shot on a rebound from the top of the right faceoff circle that found the back of the net, beating Plymouth State freshman goalie Kalle Andersson. 

Sophomore Philip Elgstam (Stockholm, Sweden) picked up the primary assist to add to his team-leading point total on the year. Senior defenseman Connor Swystun (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) picked up the secondary assist on the goal. 

Norwich found some breathing room at the 16:45 mark of the third period with freshman defenseman Logan vende Meerakker (Dieppe, New Brunswick) scoring his first collegiate goal with a blast from the point that banked off the left post and into the back of the net. Felix Brassard (St. Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec) and Maxime Borduas (St. Cesaire, Quebec) each picked up assists on the goal.

Norwich outshot Plymouth State 35-30 in the game, but the Panthers held a 12-7 edge in the final period. 

Andersson made 33 saves and was impressive again for the second straight game in goal for the Panthers. Plymouth State dropped to 2-4 on the season after the loss. 

Norwich was scheduled to play Skidmore next weekend, but that series has been canceled due to COVID-19 protocols affecting Skidmore's program. The Cadets are currently looking for a pivot opponent to play next weekend and more information should be available early this week on that.