The edge may be off of Merrimack, which will have to settle for fifth, and play on the road at Maine in the first round of the playoffs.
Merrimack was hoping that a win over UMass would mean fourth place, but Maine spoiled that by beating UNH 1-0.
photo by J. Anthony Roberts
NORTH ANDOVER -The television screens inside the Blue Line Club, the plush pre-game home for the season ticket holders and friends of Merrimack hockey, were all tuned to NESN.
The hope was that New Hampshire would beat Maine in the 4 p.m. game, and give the Warriors a shot at finishing in the fourth and final playoff position by beating UMass in the 7 p.m. game.
But it was a frustrated group of viewers that watched helplessly as the Wildcats pulled their goalie, but couldn't get the equalizer in a 1-0 loss to UNH.
That's probably good news for UMass for the Saturday night game as there is a little less incentive for the Warriors to win. On the other hand, they are probably frustrated that the Minutemen took home ice away from them with the 5-1 win Friday night.
So, I'm looking for a chippy game.
Steve Mastalerz is in goal for UMass. Zach LaRue is in the lineup, and Adam Phillips was given a start, replacing Oleg Yevenko.
If UMass wins, and Providence loses to Lowell, the Minutemen would move up to the seventh seed, and likely play at BU instead of at BC. BC leads BU by two points, and is playing Vermont. BU is at Northeastern, which has been eliminated.