In Middle of Playoff Race, River Hawks Seek Second Straight Strong Finish
Last season the River Hawks finished the regular season 5-2-2 and narrowly missed the Hockey East playoffs. This season the River Hawks are in the middle of the playoff hunt and very much control their own destiny.

UML is 12-10-4 through 26 games overall and 7-8-4 (18 points) in league play. While seventh in the league standings, the River Hawks are just four points behind fourth-place Northeastern.

UML is six points behind Boston College, its opponent this weekend, for second place in the standings. The two squads meet at the Conte Forum Friday night. They square off at the Tsongas Arena Saturday night.

Nineteen players are back from the 2006-07 squad. The group is a year older and a year more experienced. At the season’s mid-way point the River Hawks were 9-4-4, tied for the third-best record through 17 games in program history (since becoming Division I in 1983).

Their strong play this season has not gone unnoticed as they have been ranked in the top-20 of the USCHO.com/CSTV poll for nine straight weeks. They reached as high as 13th in the country on January 7, and are 18th as of February 11.

Four of the remaining eight games are at the Tsongas Arena, where Lowell has enjoyed a 9-5-1 record. Six of their remaining eight games are against teams currently ahead of them in the standings – BC, Vermont and Northeastern.

The River Hawks are 2-3-0 against their four remaining opponents this season. But all three losses have been by one goal – 2-1 at Northeastern (11/17), 5-4 vs. Boston College (1/18) and 3-2 at Vermont (2/3).

UML is 2-0-0 against Maine, including a 6-0 triumph in the championship game of the Florida College Classic (12/29). The River Hawks defeated the Black Bears, 3-2, on February 1.

The River Hawks are a plus-10 in goal differential this season with 74 goals scored and 64 allowed. The 74 goals scored through 26 games ties their 36-game total from a season ago. UML is third in Hockey East in scoring defense at 2.46 goals against per game.

UML’s penalty kill has been one of the best in the league all season, currently third at 86.4-percent. And the power play is improved, up to 14.4-percent, compared to 11.2-percent last season.

Ben Holmstrom leads the River Hawks in both points (21) and assists (17). He is second on the team with four power play goals. Kory Falite and Mark Roebothan are tied for the team lead with 11 goals on the season.

The goaltending tandem of Carter Hutton and Nevin Hamilton has provided solid play between the pipes all season for the River Hawks. Hutton is 4-5-2 with a 2.21 GAA and a .918 save percentage. Hamilton is 7-5-2 with a 2.59 GAA and a .912 save percentage.

Much like the end of last season when the UML battled its way to a strong finish, the final eight games of the regular season in 2007-08 won’t be easy. But unlike last year the River Hawks control their own destiny down the stretch.

River Hawks, Eagles Finish up regular season series this weekend
The UMass Lowell River Hawks hockey team and the Boston College Eagles meet up for a Hockey East home-and-home series Friday and Saturday night.

The weekend series is the 84th and 85th all-time meetings between the Eagles and River Hawks. Boston College has won six of the last seven meetings and holds a 51-26-6 lead in the all-time series. BC is 25-12-3 all-time at home in the series, and 22-14-2 at UML. In games played at the Tsongas Arena, the Eagles are 13-3-0.

Boston College won the first meeting this season, 5-4, at the Tsongas Arena on January 18. In that game the River Hawks jumped out to an early lead, but the Eagles rallied for the win.

UML’s last victory in the series was a 6-3 win at the Tsongas Arena on February 25, 2006. The River Hawks last win at Conte Forum was a 3-1 victory on February 18, 2005. BC won the last meeting at Conte Forum, 3-0, on February 22, 2007.

Who’s Hot:
Ben Holmstrom (Colorado Springs, Colo.) extended his point streak to four games with a power play goal against Boston University (2/8). Holmstrom has two goals and three assists during the point streak. The sophomore captain leads the River Hawks in both assists (17) and points (21).

Barry Goers (Ivyland, Pa.) recorded two power play assists against Boston University (2/8). Goers leads the River Hawks with 10 power play points and has 16 points (2 goals, 14 assists) in 26 games this season.
 
Jeremy Dehner (Madison, Wis.) earned two assists against Boston University (2/8), both on the power play. Dehner has a goal and five assists over the last eight games.

Miscellaneous Notes
The River Hawks power play went 2-for-5 against Boston University Friday and is 3-for-9 in the last two games after going 0-for-21 over the previous three games… Lowell is 12-3-1 in 16 games when allowing two goals or less this season … The River Hawks are 11-2-3 when allowing two goals or less … UML has surrendered the game's first goal 13 times this season and is unbeaten in seven of those games (4 wins, 3 ties) … Lowell's 74 goals scored (through 26 games) ties their 36-game output from a season ago … The River Hawks are 30-3-1 over the last three seasons, including a 6-1-1 mark this season, when leading after two periods.