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University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
#1/2 Boston College
#9 Massachusetts Hockey Set For Clash At #1/2 Boston College Friday Night
February 25, 2021 | Hockey
The top-10 matchup between the Minutemen and the Eagles will air on NESNplus at 7 p.m.
| University of Massachusetts Hockey Game Notes | |
| Game 21 | #9 Massachusetts Minutemen (12-5-3, 12-5-3Â HE) vs. #1/2 Boston College Eagles (15-3-1, 15-3-1 HE) |
| Date | Time | February 26, 2021 - 7 p.m. |
| Location | Chestnut Hill, Mass. (Kelley Rink) |
| Series History | Boston College leads 69-16-4 |
| Live Statistics | Sidearm |
| Watch Live | NESNplus SportsLive (outside New England) CBS Sports App Hockey East Streaming Information |
| Listen (Radio) | WHMP AM 1400/1240 FM 101.5/107.5 |
| Listen (Online) | WHMP Streaming Player | TuneIn App (mobile devices) |
| Game Notes | Massachusetts | Boston College |
| Team Records | Massachusetts | Boston College |
| @UMassHockey | @UMassAthletics | |
| UMass Hockey | UMass Athletics | |
Last Time Out: #9 UMass Overwhelms #14 Providence, 8-1
- No. 9 University of Massachusetts hockey celebrated its return to action with its highest scoring output since 2008, rolling to an 8-1 victory over #14 Providence at Schneider Arena on Tuesday night.Â
- Redshirt senior Carson Gicewicz put UMass on the board early, curling around the right faceoff circle and finding the inside of the far post on the power play off a feed from senior Oliver Chau and sophomore Matthew Kessel at the 3:33 mark of the first period for his team-leading 11th goal of the season.
- Just 54 seconds later, junior Ty Farmer cleaned up a loose puck in the slot from classmates Bobby Trivigno and Garrett Wait to double the Minutemen's lead.
- UMass opened the second period with freshman Josh Lopina tucking home a rebound off an initial attempt by Wait to increase the margin to 3-0 at 1:15 for his seventh tally of the year.
- Providence took the goal right back at 2:46 with Patrick Moynihan setting up Parker Ford on a 2-on-0 to bring the Friars back within two, but it was all Minutemen the rest of the way.
- UMass went on to add three more goals before the second intermission, ballooning its lead to 6-1. First Wait picked off an errant pass in the neutral zone and drove to the net 8:52 into the period to collect the Minutemen's fourth goal.
- Senior George Mika flipped home a loose puck at the top of the Providence crease for his second goal in as many games at the 13:27 mark of the second period with sophomore Jerry Harding and freshman Aaron Bohlinger earning the assists.
- Chau then made it 6-1, 15:42 into the stanza from Gicewicz off an offensive zone faceoff win at the start of a UMass power play.
- Wait later added his second of the night from Chau and Lopina, 3:21 into the third and sophomore Zac Jones capped the scoring with the Minutemen's third power-play goal of the contest from Trivigno at the 5:32 mark.
- Wait led seven goal scorers with a career-best four-point effort on two goals and two assists. Chau finished with three points (1g, 2a) and Lopina (1g, 1a), Gicewicz (1g, 1a) and Trivigno (2a) had two points apiece.
- Junior Filip Lindberg totaled 30 saves en route to the win, while Jaxson Stauber stopped 32 shots for Providence.
- UMass out-shot the Friars 40-31 on the night and went 3-for-6 on the power play, while Providence was 0-for-2.
- It marked the first time UMass scored eight goals in a game since a 9-4 win over the Friars on Oct. 31, 2008 at the Mullins Center. It marked the highest road scoring output for the Minutemen since Feb. 2, 1996, an 8-5 win at Merrimack.
Lindberg Rakes In Hockey East Honors
- After stellar weekends against #18 Providence and #16 UMass Lowell, junior goaltender Filip Lindberg collected Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week back-to-back weeks to end the month of January. He was then tabbed the Hockey East Goaltender of the Month for January on February 4.
- Lindberg started four of nine games for UMass in January and went 2-0-2 with a shootout win and a shootout loss, all against ranked foes.Â
- He posted the best goals-against average (0.48) and save percentage (.980) in the nation in January, letting up just two goals on 98 shots over 250 minutes of action and logged two shutouts last month to lead the league.
- The Espoo, Finland native did not allow more than one goal in any of his four starts. In back-to-back overtime games against #18 Providence, Lindberg allowed just one goal in 130:00 of work and secured a shootout win for the Minutemen, denying each of the Friars' five shot attempts.
- He posted his second shutout of the month with 16 saves in a 5-0 win over #16 UMass Lowell and followed up with 28 stops in a 2-1 victory against the River Hawks in Lowell, UMass' first win in the Tsongas Center since 2011.
- Lindberg currently ranks second nationally in save percentage (.947) on the season, third in goals-against average (1.39).
Strictly Numbers
- Sophomore Matthew Kessel leads all defensemen nationally in goals (9) and goals per-game (0.45), is tied for sixth in points (17) and tied for seventh in points per-game (0.85).Â
- Sophomore Zac Jones sits tied for sixth nationally in points by defensemen (17) and tied for second goals by defensemen (6). He is tied for15th in assists (11), tied for seventh in points per-game (.85) and sixth in goals per-game (0.30).
- Senior Matt Murray became the UMass career leader in wins by a goaltender with his shutout over UNH on Jan. 6, passing Gabe Winer's '06 total of 50. Murray is sixth all-time in program history in career saves with 1904.
Special Teams Success
- As of February 25, UMass' penalty kill ranks second (91.9%) in the nation, first in Hockey East, and its power play sits fifth nationally (25.6%) while the squad is tied for fifth in the nation in shorthanded goals with three. The Minutemen lead the nation in combined special teams at 58.7%. UMass is a net +16 on special teams this season, tops in Hockey East.
- To date, 25 of the team's 70 goals have come in special teams situations, 35.7% of the squad's scoring.
- UMass has 22 power-play goals through 20 games, compared to 16 in 34 games in 2019-20 and is tied for fourth in the nation in power-play goals.
Quick Draw
- One of the Minutemen's biggest strengths thus far has been the team's success over the faceoff dots. As of February 25, UMass ranks second in the nation with a 55.6% faceoff percentage, 692 of 1245.
- Individually, Josh Lopina ranks 28th nationally (57.4%, 226 of 394), George Mika ranks 33rd (56.8%, 25 of 44) and Carson Gicewicz ranks 34th (56.8%, 46 of 81). Lopina ranks 11th nationally in faceoffs wins (226), 71 more than the next closest rookie.
Immediate ImpactÂ
- UMass' newcomers have combined for 66 of the team's 189 points through 20 games or 34.9% of the scoring. Five newcomers have provided a combined 29 goals of UMass' total of 70 or 41.4%.
- Three of the team's top-seven point providers through 20 games are new additions to the Minutemen roster for 2020-21 with redshirt senior Carson Gicewicz leading the team in goals (11) and tied for fifth on the team in points (16), while freshman Josh Lopina also has 16 points to date (7g, 9a) and junior Garrett Wait follows with 14 points (7g, 7a). Wait currently has an active four-game point streak and has eight points (3g, 5a) during that stretch.
And The Beat Goes OnÂ
- From current NHLers 2019 Hobey Baker winner, 2020 Calder Trophy winner Cale Makar and 2019 Hockey East All-Star Mario Ferraro, UMass' hallmark has been its talent on the blueline during head coach Greg Carvel's tenure.Â
- UMass' defensemen scored 21 goals last season, which ranked eighth nationally, while the squad's 90 points by defensemen ranked ninth. Minutemen blueliners averaged 12.06 shots per-game, which led the nation in 2019-20.
- Individually, Matt Kessel led all rookie defensemen nationally last season with seven goals and is UMass' top returning goal scorer from the blueline for 2020-21. He was selected in the fifth round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft (150th overall) by the St. Louis Blues this fall. He is one of three draft picks patrolling the UMass blueline this season along with 2019 New York Rangers third round pick Zac Jones (68th overall) and 2019 Nashville Predators fourth round pick Marc Del Gaizo (109th overall).Â
- Jones, a Hockey East All-Rookie Team selection in 2019-20 in UMass' top returning point scorer (23 points). He was the top scoring rookie defenseman in Hockey East last season, Jones finished the year 16th in the nation in freshman scoring at .72 points per-game, third for the Minutemen overall with three goals and 20 assists and was +12 on the year. The two-time Hockey East Rookie of the Week became the first UMass defenseman during the program's Division I era to post 20 assists in his rookie season.Â
- As a team, UMass was sixth in the nation in scoring defense (1.97) in 2019-20 after ranking seventh (2.02) the season prior. The 2019-20 squad set a program record for the fewest goals allowed in a season, 67.
- Through 20 games this season, the Minutemen blueliners lead the nation in points per-game (3.10) and goals per-game (.85) by defensemen, while ranking second in power-play goals (7) and power-play assists (17), power-play points (24) and shots on goal per-game (11.80), third in the nation in goals (17), fourth in points (62) and sixth in assists (45).
- The Minutemen currently rank fourth in the nation in scoring defense, first in Hockey East at 1.85 goals per-game.
Home Is Where The Wins Are
- UMass is 42-9-2 in its last 53 games at the Mullins Center and went 29-5-1 over the past two seasons (2018-19 and 2019-20) for an .842 winning percentage. This stretch included a 16-game unbeaten streak (15-0-1) began on Jan. 11, 2019 against Vermont and came to an end on Nov. 30, 2019 with a 2-1 loss to Quinnipiac. UMass is 8-2-1 at home this season, tied for fifth in the nation for home victories.
- The Minutemen's home winning percentage the last two years ranked second nationally behind only Minnesota State's .918. UMass' home wins total from October 2018 to March 2020 was good for third nationally, trailing only Minnesota State (39) and North Dakota (30).
Name A More Iconic Duo
- The Minutemen have returned arguably one of the most experienced goaltending tandems in the country in junior Filip Lindberg and senior Matt Murray. Both finished the 2019-20 campaign among the NCAA leaders, including both ranking in the top 10 nationally in goals-against average (Murray seventh, Lindberg eighth), while Murray finished 10th in winning percentage (13-6-0, .684) and Lindberg ranked 15th in the nation in save percentage (.927) last season.
- Murray was the NCAA statistical champion for winning percentage in 2018-19 with a record of 20-5-0, a mark that also surpassed a program record for wins previously held by former Minuteman and NHL veteran Jonathan Quick.Â
- Lindberg, who started all four of UMass' NCAA Tournament games in 2018-19, ended his freshman campaign second in the nation with a 1.60 goals-against average and a .934 save percentage. The Espoo, Finland native ended his rookie season fourth nationally in winning percentage (.733) with a record of 11-4-0 and tied for 10th nationally in shutouts with four.
- As a freshman in 2018-19, Lindberg set a new program single-season record for goals-against average and tied Murray's record for single-season shutouts. His save percentage was the highest by a UMass netminder since 1969-70, second all-time.
- Murray and Lindberg tied the program's shutout record (5) from 1913-14 in 2018-19.
- Lindberg is currently the program's all-time career leader in save percentage (.934) and goals-against average (1.68), while Murray ranks third (.915) in save percentage and second in goals-against average (2.21) in school history. Murray is also the program all-time leader in career wins (51) and shutouts (11).
- Murray entered the season tied for fourth among active NCAA netminders in shutouts, ninth in saves (1,527) and fourth in wins.-
Lindberg entered the season fifth among active goaltenders nationally in career save percentage and third in goals-against average.
Watch Out For Marc Del Gaizo
- While many know Marc Del Gaizo for scoring the overtime game winner that sent UMass into the 2019 National Championship game, that was merely the exclamation point on one of the best rookie seasons by a Minuteman defenseman in program history.Â
- Del Gaizo received Hockey East Third Team All-Star and Hockey East All-Rookie Team accolades and earned an All-CHN Rookie Team nod, as well.
- One of seven Minutemen to see action in all 41 games, Del Gaizo ranked 17th in the nation for points per-game by a freshman (0.71), and third in Hockey East with 29 points on 13 goals and 16 assists.
- The Basking Ridge, New Jersey native tied for third in the nation in plus minus at +31, tied for ninth in Hockey East in power-play points (14), power-play goals (6) and ranked fourth in defenseman scoring.
- Del Gaizo was the first rookie defenseman in Hockey East history to score 10 goals in league play, which tied for fifth overall on the Hockey East list for goals by a defenseman in a single season all-time.Â
- Though hampered with injuries through much of the first half of the 2019-20 season, the now junior assistant captain still managed to put up 15 points in 22 games last season on four goals and 11 assists and was +9.
Top Of The Charts
- UMass entered the 2019-20 season ranked No. 4 in the USCHO.com poll and No. 5 in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Men's College Hockey Poll, which was the first time the Minutemen opened a season ranked in either poll. Thus far in 2020-21, the Minutemen have been ranked in the top-15 every week.
- History was made on Dec. 3, 2018 as the Minutemen earned their first No. 1 national ranking in program history, sitting at the top of the USCHO.com poll with 26 first-place votes and 964 points. UMass was ranked for 20 straight weeks to end the 2018-19 season, and earned a No. 2 ranking in the final polls.
- UMass entered the national rankings on Oct. 22, 2018 coming in at No. 16 in the USCHO.com poll. The last time the Minutemen were ranked prior to October 2018 was in the USCHO.com poll released on Feb. 15, 2010.
- On November 5, 2018, UMass moved up to No. 9 in the USCHO.com Poll and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Men's College Hockey Poll in the No. 9 spot as well, the highest ranking for the Minutemen since November 30, 2009 (No. 9).
- UMass surpassed all previous highs in rankings on Nov. 12, 2018 when the squad was sitting at No. 4 in both polls.
- Previously the highest ranking in program history came in the USCHO.com poll on Dec. 31, 2007 at No. 5. The Minutemen spent six weeks in the top-10 during the 2007-08 season.
- After sitting in the No. 4 spot for two weeks, UMass improved upon its all-time highest ranking, moving up to No. 3 in both polls on Nov. 26, 2018.
- The Minutemen earned their first-ever top-10 ranking (No. 9) on Nov. 10, 2003 and ranked as high as No. 7 that season.
- UMass collected its first-ever national ranking on Jan. 6, 2003. (No. 15 USCHO.com poll/No. 14 USA Today/American Hockey Magazine Poll).
- On Jan. 14, 2019, UMass received its first No. 1 ranking in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll.
League Things And Other Tidbits
- Anthony and Marc Del Gazio's father Anthony played college hockey at Merrimack (1983-84). They are the fourth set of siblings to play for the Minutemen in the program's modern era (James Marcou 2007-10 and Michael Marcou 2008-12; Jeff Turner 1997-2001 and Tim Turner 1999-2003; Mike Warner 2000-04 and Tim Warner 2001-05).
- Bobby Trivigno is the second member of his family to play in Hockey East, following in the footsteps of his sister Dana who was a standout forward and former captain for Boston College, where she put up 138 points in 148 career games for the Eagles (2012-16).
- Filip Lindberg first started playing goal after receiving his first set of hand-me-down pads from former Merrimack goaltender and fellow Finland native Rasmus Tirronen, who played for the Warriors from 2011-15.
- Matthew Kessel is the third member of his family to play college hockey. His brother Will played at Western Michigan from 2011-15 and captained the Broncos in 2014-15, while his brother Peter plays at Holy Cross and is in his junior season with the Crusaders.
- Linden Alger's father Richard played for UMass in the program's inaugural Division I season (1993-94) and then played the next two campaigns at Boston University (1995-97).
