The River Hawks had one last exciting charge on Dainton, but it wasn't enough to tie the game yet again.
The Minutemen snap their losing streak, and pick up their first road win of the 2010-11 season. UMass Lowell picks up their 12th straight loss. They'll try again on Saturday, when they travel to Mullins Center for the second game in this home-and-home series.
Third Period, 0:10, UMass 5-4: Somehow, Danny Hobbs shot finds the back of the net with 10 seconds remaining. It didn't even look like Hobbs was attempting to score, it looked like a centering pass to his teammate at the left side, and the puck bounced off the skate of Maury Edwards for the lead.
Third Period, 0:59, 4-4: The offense is pouring in on both sides. Wetmore finds linemate David Vallorani right on the doorstep, but his shot is blocked and goes wide.
Third Period, 3:27, 4-4: The light briefly lit on the Minutemen's offensive end, but it's quickly extinguished as the shot clangs off the post.
Third Period, 7:35, 4-4: The referees will take their third trip to the replay booth, as they will study their call on Scheu's no-goal.
For the third time tonight, the refs "No Goal" call stands. The rivals stay tied at 4-4.
Third Period, 7:35, 4-4: The offensive attack is rapidly shifting to the River Hawks, as forward Michael Scheu scores, but knocks the net off in the process. The refs wave the goal off, and we're still knotted at two.
Third Period, 10:10, 4-4: Maury Edwards has tied things up at Tsongas. The senior defenseman's shot just snuck its way past Dainton and the post to even things up with 10 minutes to play.
Third Period, 11:08, UMass 4-3: Scorekeepers announce a change to the goal scorer on that last one by the River Hawks. Shayne Thompson is awarded the goal.
Third Period, 12:55, UMass 4-3: Josh Holmstrom turns up the heat for the River Hawks as he nets his first collegiate goal to pull within one in the third period.
Holmstrom followed his own backhanded shot on Dainton, and finished with a quick strike into the left corner.
Third Period, 14:45, UMass 4-2: Lowell is stepping up the pressure in their offensive zone, and this matchup is far from over at Tsongas.
Third Period, 17:17, UMass 4-2: Things are getting a bit chippy here in the third. Lowell's Al Butler and UMass' Kevin Czepiel head to the penalty box for roughing. We'll play at 4-on-4 for two minutes.
Third Period, 17:28, UMass 4-2: Josh Holmstrom gets a close opportunity for Lowell, taking the puck all the way in toward the crease on Dainton, but his shot is deflected wide.
Third Period, 19:40, UMass 4-2: To capitalize on these final 40 seconds of power play would be crucial for UMass, to keep their momentum going. They don't need the goal, per say, but to maintain that intensity is key to take early command of the third.
End of Second Period: That was clutch for the River Hawks to finish that period without allowing the Minutemen to catch fire on that power play. It's taken all of Lowell's efforts to stay within two goals here, and it doesn't look like the Minutemen are letting up anytime soon.
Second Period, 1:17, UMass 4-2: Pedenza is called for a hooking penalty trying to prevent a centering pass to Rocco Carzo in front of the net. If you're going to take a penalty, those are the ones you want.
Second Period, 7:01, UMass 4-2: The instant replay clearly showed the puck crossing the goal line, but the referees rule "No Goal" on the play. Toot Cahoon argues, but this one is staying at 4-2.
Second Period, 7:01, UMass 4-2: We're headed back to the review booth as a UMass attack results in what they believe to be a goal. No call or whistle on the ice indicated the result of the play, and we're heading to instant replay.
Second Period, 8:44, UMass 4-2: Lowell finally gets a break, as they take advantage of some Minutemen laziness in their own defensive zone.
Joseph Pendenza capitalized on that laziness when he stole the puck from the Minutemen defense and fires the puck over Dainton's glove side for a short-handed goal.
Second Period, 9:39, UMass 4-1: Coming off a short-handed situation, the Minutement will now go on a man-advantage as Lowell forward Derek McCoy heads to the box for tripping.
Second Period, 11:58, UMass 4-1: Adam Phillips heads to the penalty box after snapping his stick on a UMass forward. He'll take two minutes for cross checking, and the River Hawks will try to cut this lead in half.
Second Period, 14:32, UMass 4-1: That consistent attack pays off yet again for the Minutemen as Mike Pereira scores a power play goal to extend the lead to 4-1.
Darren Rowe picks up the assist on the play, as his slapshot from the point rebounded to Pereira, who hacked it past Boulanger for his eighth goal of the season.
Second Period, 14:46, UMass 3-1: They may have come up with a close call there, but the Minutemen are continuing to fervently attack on the Lowell netminder.
Second Period, 15:40, UMass 3-1: Taking advantage of their power play, the Minutemen come up with a very close call in front of the River Hawks net. Their shot on goal gets past Boulanger, but freshman defensman Chad Ruhwedel saves the puck just inches from the line.
After review, the refs hold up their on-ice call — No Goal.
Second Period, 16:23, UMass 3-1: Well, they spoiled that opportunity pretty quick, as Lowell forward Derek Arnold heads to the box for interference.
Second Period, 17:53, UMass 3-1: River Hawks get their second power play opportunity of the game, as senior Marc Concannon heads to the penalty box for tripping.
This is the prime opportunity to regain some momentum at Tsongas.
Second Period, 19:52, UMass 3-1: UMass opened the second period just as Lowell opened the first, with a game-changing goal. Junior forward Danny Hobbs drove in on net, taking Boulanger out of the play, and the rebounded puck fed right into the hands of freshman Branden Gracel, who easily extends the Minutemen's lead to 3-1.
First Period Notes: Lowell still maintains the edge in shots, and in faceoffs won from the first period, but the momentum and confidence stil lies with the Minutemen.
The 2-on-1 play created by Pereira definitely boosted UMass to take the lead. Lowell will have to come out hard in the second to stay on pace with the revitalized Minutemen.
End of First Period: The River Hawks gained momentum early, taking a command over the first ten minutes of play. The Minutemen didn't let up, however, and responded with two goals of their own.
UMass Amherst heads to the locker room with the lead at the end of the first.
First Period, 5:35, UMass 2-1: Mike Lecomte gives UMass the lead as the first period is winding down. The senior forward collected a pass from linemate Mike Pereira, and beat River Hawk goaltender Marc Boulanger on the shot.
First Period,7:15, 1-1: Chase Langeraap evens things out midway through the first, capitalizing on assists from Peter DeAngelo and Kevin Czepiel.
First Period, 16:45, UMass Lowell 1-0: With all the excitement, there hasn't been much introduction to this one. Senior Paul Dainton is between the pipes for the Minutemen, while
First Period, 19:34, UMass Lowell 1-0: The River Hawks strike first with an immediate goal just 26 seconds into the first period. Sophomore Riley Wetmore catches goaltender Paul Dainton off guard with a quick shot from the right side.
The early lead is exactly what the River Hawks need to boost their confidence after a frustrating first half.
5 p.m.:Two in-state rivals will take to the ice on Friday evening, kicking off a home-and-home series at Tsongas Center in Lowell.
The UMass Lowell River Hawks will host the UMass Amherst Minutemen to kick off the two-game set. Both teams have a lot to prove in this one, as they are both riding multi-game losing streaks.
The River Hawks are desperate to get back into the win column, as they haven't registered a win since Nov. 5, at home against Vermont. The Minutemen have not posted a victory since their last matchup with the River Hawks on Dec. 4, where the earned a 5-2 win on their home ice.
A quick glance would assume that the Minutemen have the advantage in this one, but UMass Lowell is 31-19-6 against UMass all time, and it took a three-goal surge in the third period to push Amherst past Lowell in their December matchup.
We'll have all the updates throughout the evening, in what's sure to be a heated matchup between two Hockey East rivals.
The puck drops at 7:30 p.m.
