The men’s hockey team collected three important points in Hockey East last weekend, battling to a 1-1 tie at home against Maine on Friday, before beating Boston University 3-1 on Saturday evening.
The tie against Maine was a tough result for the River Hawks, as they led the game 1-0 until the final minutes of the third period, when Maine put an extra attacker on the ice, which resulted in forward Ryan Lomberg lifting a backhander past Connor Hellebuyck to tie the game.
Overtime proved unfruitful, as neither team could crack the other’s defense. River Hawk Head Coach Norm Bazin still took some positives from the game, calling it an improvement from the last time they played the Black Bears.
“When we played up there (Dec. 8) we had a few things that we struggled with. I thought we did a much better job of adjusting to those things tonight,” said Bazin to goriverhawks.com. “We kept the pressure in the offensive zone, which is a very good change from the first time we played them. I thought we had plenty of chances to capitalize and their goalie played well.”
UMass Lowell had a chance to earn two more valuable points the next evening against BU, and while the game was much closer than the score might indicate, the result was a solid win nonetheless. Lowell’s goal scorers included Scott Wilson, Terrance Wallin, and Joseph Pendenza. The team’s offensive attack was relentless, outshooting BU 19-2 in the first period.
The pressure led to only one first period goal, however, and although Wallin’s tally led to a 2-0 edge, the Terriers made it interesting at the start of the third period with a power play goal, stemming from a Christian Folin five minute major and game misconduct for kneeing.
It was not until an empty net goal from Pendenza that the River Hawks and their fans could breathe easily and expel any thoughts of another overtime. Overall, Bazin was happy with his team’s performance over the weekend, crediting smart passes and timely defense as key factors to their success.
“I thought our puck support was very good this weekend as a whole, so I am very happy with that,” Bazin said to goriverhawks.com. “There were a lot of 10-foot passes being made and not a lot of stretch passes and if that continues I think we will keep generating offense because we are coming up with numbers.”
With the win over BU, Hellebuyck dropped his nation-leading goals against average to an amazing 1.62. He is now 4-0 in his career against the Terriers, allowing just two goals in those four games.
The River Hawks have a tough test ahead of them this weekend with a home and home series against a streaking Providence Friars squad that is currently ranked third in Hockey East and seventh in the nation. They will play at Providence on Friday, before returning to the Tsongas Center on Saturday night.