Despite a 52-save performance from goaltender Alexei Kuhl on Friday night, Washington State was bested by the Huskies in game one of the Apple Puck.
The puck dropped at the Kraken Community Iceplex to begin a series between these bitter rivals. Washington looked dominant to start, firing on all cylinders, staying one step ahead of the Cougs in every aspect of the game.
With the Huskies in control, it was not long until Washington captain Darren Morris put one by Kuhl off a pass from Benjamin Lampman to open the scoring. The quick strike sent the fans in purple and gold into a frenzy.
UW club hockey forward Benjamin Lampman (92) standing next to WSU forward Mathew Taylor (5) on Oct. 25 2025.
The Dawgs continued to throw pucks on net but Kuhl denied them time after time, finishing the first period having saved 21 of 22 total shots. Washington netminder Zach Reddy only faced eight shots, but answered all of them, sending game one into the first intermission with the Huskies up 1-0.
“The boys lost a lot of foot races and they were reaching for pucks. If they skate through those, it’s a whole different game,” WSU head coach John Lupinacci said.
Reddy entered the Apple Puck with a stainless record of 4-0, holding a .973 save percentage in his four starts. The Cougars offense was coming off of an inconsistent performance from their battles against Western in the weekend prior. After the opening frame, it looked to be more of the same.
A new period began but the same one-sided affair continued. The Huskies constantly hemmed the Cougars in their own zone, but Kuhl was standing strong in the blue paint. Despite powerplay opportunities for both sides, the man-advantages were not enough to come away with a goal.
“The dam is going to break,” Washington head coach Matt Cleeton said.
With just over 12 minutes remaining in the second frame, the dam did break as Cameron Irwin found Cameron Britt out front for a tap-in goal to give the Huskies a two-goal lead. Despite the relentless attack from the Dawgs, Kuhl gave WSU a chance to fight back.
“Alexei stands on his head, makes some amazing saves. I mean that really rallies the boys,” Lupinacci said.
Logan Maloney (2) for the UW hockey team takes the puck around the net of Alexei Kuhl (30) on Oct. 25 2025.
UW finished the period with 16 shots and only found success on one yet again. Meanwhile, the Cougars’ offense had been stymied, only putting up three shots as Reddy was ready for all of them.
The third and final frame of regulation started and the lack of intermission adjustments showed for the Cougars. The last 20 minutes of the game presented more of the same, with Washington holding possession for the majority of the game. Washington was not often in their own zone, but rather on the offensive in Cougar territory.
As it looked like the Cougars were going to go out without a fight, freshman David Bushkin continued his remarkable rookie season with a goal to cut the lead in half.
“I sat him down for a minute, took a shift off and said you know ‘dig deep in the tank, you’re a goal scorer. Get out there and score a goal’ and he went and delivered,” Lupinacci said.
With two minutes left, the Cougar fans in attendance finally had something to cheer about.
“We gotta skate harder, gotta get harder on our forecheck. I mean, just put more pucks in the back of the net,” Bushkin said.
Despite a late effort from Bushkin and the Cougars, UW held on to edge the Cougars 2-1. Kuhl presented a .962 save percentage in the contest, as the Huskies outshot WSU 54-16.
“I personally don’t think there’s a better goalie in the Pac [8], so love to have him,” Bushkin said.
Forward David Bushkin for WSU club hockey warms up to play against UW on Oct. 25 2025.
Although Kuhl showed a successful night as the Cougars netminder, he credited some of his success in between the pipes to his defense as well.
“The defensive play was unreal. [They] cleared pucks when I needed them cleared,” Kuhl said.
The Cougars have not defeated the Huskies since 2021, but came as close as they have in recent years Friday night, despite not playing up to standard in any way.
“More possession inside the zone, get shots on this goalie. He’ll let up eventually,” Kuhl said.
Their record for the season as a whole moves to 4-9 and they have lost their last four contests.
The Cougars are scheduled to play the Huskies again Saturday night at the Kraken Community Iceplex. They look to get back in the win column with a rivalry win in game two of the Apple puck.
