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Borek Postgame Comments
LOWELL, Mass. – Three goals in less than three minutes helped the Merrimack College men's ice hockey team rally from a first-period deficit to tie the game early in the second, but No. 14 UMass Lowell netted the next three
to close out a 6-3 decision over the Warriors on Friday night at the Tsongas Center. The two teams conclude the series at Lawler Rink tomorrow evening.
Juniors
Sami Tavernier and
Patrick Kramer joined senior
Derek Petti on the scoresheet early in the second, when the Warriors erased a three-goal deficit in lightning-quick fashion. But the visitors got no closer and watched as the River Hawks tallied a power play goal later in the second and then add two more in the third to close out the contest.
The Basics
Score: UMass Lowell 6,
Merrimack 3
Records: Merrimack (7-22-2, 4-16-1 HEA) | #14 UMass Lowell (18-10-2, 12-6-2 HEA)
Location: Tsongas Center | Lowell, Mass.
Game Duration: 2:08
How It Happened
- It was all UMass Lowell in the opening frame, as the River Hawks lit the lamp three times. Lowell struck in the sixth minute of the contest, as a point shot on the power play was redirected on the way in to put the hosts up early. The River Hawks netted another after a point shot bounced all the way back to the slot where Lucas Condotta pounced on it. Merrimack freshman August von Ungern-Sternberg was denied on a breakaway moments later, and the Warriors' loss was the River Hawks' gain, as Chase Blackmun scored from the right point goes glove side to round out the scoring in the first stanza.
- But the Warriors wrestled that momentum back in their favor with three goals in the first 2:42 to quiet the Tsongas Center. Tavernier buried his fourth just 13 seconds in with the Warriors on an early power play, followed by even-strength tallies by Petti – who tipped home his sixth off a center point shot from sophomore Dominic Dockery – and Kramer, who batted a centering pass from freshman Jordan Seyfert out of mid-air and in at the weak side post to even the ledger at 3-3.
- But the River Hawks stole the lead right back late in the second, again on the power play, as Reid Stefanson finally beat senior Craig Pantano – who had 21 saves in the second period alone up until that point – off a rebound to restore UMass Lowell's edge.
- UMass Lowell got two more in the third to account for the final margin of victory; Ryan Lohin got his 12th to go less than 90 seconds into the period before Nick Master's fourth lamp-lighter nine minutes into the period.
Notes & Numbers
- The three goals in the second period marked just the second time this season that Merrimack scored three goals in a single frame, the last being in the third period at Michigan in a 4-2 win on Jan. 8, 2019.
- The Warriors scored three goals in 2:42 to start the second period. The last time Merrimack netted three goals in that quick a span was when it scored three in 1:59 in an eventual 5-5 tie at Minnesota Duluth on Oct. 20, 2017.
- Petti was the lone Warrior with multiple points, scoring one and assisting on another.
- After Merrimack won 3-of-4 last year against UMass Lowell – including a sweep in the Hockey East Tournament's Opening Round at the Tsongas Center – the River Hawks got back in the win column in the all-time series, which Merrimack now trails 42-76-11.
- Goaltenders: Craig Pantano (31 saves, 6-13-2) // Tyler Wall (16 saves, 10-7-1)
- Power Plays: 1-1 | 2-5
- Shots on Goal: 8-10 // 7-22 // 4-12 – 19-44
- Faceoffs: 29 // 35
- Blocks: 6 // 8
Merrimack Lineup
Forwards
Gresock | Petti | Tavernier
von-Ungern Sternberg | Babcock | Irvine
L. Drevitch | Kramer | Seyfert
Coomes | T. Drevitch | Bales
McKay
Defense
Heidt | Kovacevic
Dockery | Carle
Cook | McArdle
Goaltenders
Halladay | Pantano | Vogler
Up Next
Merrimack and UMass Lowell conclude their weekend series back at Lawler Rink tomorrow on Senior Night. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.
