No. 13 River Hawks return to Hockey East action with home-and-home against Providence
UMass Lowell returns to the ice Friday and Saturday for a Hockey East home-and-home series with the Providence College Friars. Friday’s contest is at Schneider Arena in Providence and will begin at 7:00 p.m. Saturday’s game, originally scheduled for 7:00 p.m., has been moved to 4:00 p.m. at the Tsongas Arena.

Saturday’s game time was moved so fans can attend the hockey game and watch the New England Patriots playoff game (8:00 p.m.) against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The River Hawks have won five straight, seven of eight, and are 9-4-4 on the season. At 4-4-4 (12 points) in league play, UML is in a three-way tie for third place in the Hockey East standings, three points behind Northeastern and New Hampshire.

This weekend’s contests between UML and PC mark the 85th and 86th all-time meetings. The Friars hold a 43-32-9 edge in the all-time series. Providence went 2-0-1 against UML last season and is 5-3-1 in the last 10 meetings.

The River Hawks have a slight advantage, 22-21-2, in games played in Providence. UML is just 10-21-7 in games played at home in the series, including a 3-9-2 mark at the Tsongas Arena.

The River Hawks last win in the series was a 4-3 victory at Schneider Arena on January 15, 2003. The Friars last win in the series was a 3-2 overtime decision at the Tsongas Arena on January 13, 2007. UML’s last season series sweep of the Friars was in 1995-96. PC last swept the season series in 2002-03.

Three of the last four meetings have gone to overtime, including the last two. The River Hawks and Friars skated to a 2-2 draw at Schneider Arena on November 16. Mark Roebothan and Patrick Cey scored for UML in the season’s first meeting. Carter Hutton made 27 saves.

Special Teams Update
The UML penalty kill has killed 18 straight and 29 of the last 30. At 90.0% the River Hawks kill is ranked first in Hockey East and third in the nation. In Hockey East play, UML is 38-for-44 (86.4%) on the kill. The River Hawks have surrendered five 5-on-4 goals and two 5-on-3 tallies.

Lowell has given up just seven power play goals (70 attempts) through 17 games. Last season the River Hawks surrendered seven power play goals in their first two games at Minnesota Duluth (Oct. 13-14, 2006) – the Bulldogs were 7-for-14 in the two games.

On the power play the River Hawks enter the second half of the season at 14.3% (10-for-70). UML is 2-for-16 (12.5%) over its last five games. In league play the River Hawks are 6-for-51 (11.8%) on the season in 12 games. Eight of UML’s 10 power play goals have come during 5-on-4 situations. Two have been scored on 5-on-3s.

Maury Edwards (2g, 2a), Barry Goers (0g, 4a) and Kory Falite (2g, 2a) lead the River Hawks with four power play points on the year.

UML Hockey Primetime to Resume Tuesday night
UML Hockey’s radio show “UML Hockey Primetime” will resume Tuesday, January 8 at 6:00 p.m. at the Brewery Exchange in Lowell. The show is hosted by River Hawk play-by-play announcer Bob Ellis, UML head coach Blaise MacDonald, and Boston Bruins legend John “Pie” McKenzie. Fans are encouraged to stop by and be a part of the show. Questions are welcomed. Fans who can’t make it to the show can tune in on WUML, 91.5 FM, at 6:00 p.m.

Between the Pipes
UML sophomore goaltender Carter Hutton leads the nation with a 1.14 goals-against average (GAA) and a .956 save-percentage. The Thunder Bay, Ont., native has posted back-to-back shutouts and has a shutout streak of 153 minutes and 55 seconds. Hutton is 3-1-2 in six games this season.

Miscellaneous Notes
UML’s 9-4-4 record is tied for the third best record for the program through 17 games since becoming a Division I program in 1983-84 – tied with the 1993-94 and 2004-05 squads (.647 percentage) … The River Hawks best start through 17 games was in 2001-02 when they began 14-3-0; the 1986-87 team started 13-3-1 … The 1993-94 team was the only one of the five to make the NCAA tournament, that squad, backboned by 1993-94 Hockey East Player of the Year Dwayne Roloson, lost in the Hockey East final to Boston University (3-2) … UML plays 11 of its next 13 games at the Tsongas Arena, where it has a 6-1-1 record through eight games this season … The 6-1-1 mark is the River Hawks second best record through eight games at the Tsongas since the building opened in 1998 … The 2001-02 squad started its home slate 7-1-0 and finished with an 11-7-1 record at the Tsongas Arena.