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For the UMass Lowell hockey team, searching for consistency, it may be as simple as winning the one-on-one battles. 
 
Hockey is a team game that is so often determined by those individual battles. 
 
“Whether it's a battle in the corner, in the neutral zone or the offensive zone you have to outcompete your opponent,” says UMass Lowell hockey coach Norm Bazin. “Every time there is a loose puck you have to win that puck and you have to go into that battle knowing that you will win it.”
 
The River Hawks (4-7-1 / 2-6-1) host Northeastern University (5-8-1 / 3-7-1), Saturday night, 7:00pm, at the Tsongas Center, in the final home game before the nearly three week holiday break.
 
“There are a lot of must-win situations.  Every game we play, I want to win,” says Bazin.  “It's a tough league, so much is still up in the air.  We look to gain ground every time we play.”
 
The River Hawks have been riding a roller coaster losing twice last weekend to New Hampshire, now the top ranked team in the country, after solids wins against Massachusetts and Princeton.
 
The missing piece has been consistency.  “We've had spurts this year where we've been very good,” says Bazin.  “It's a matter of doing it more consistently.  When it all comes together it will be a pretty good product.”
 
From the coach's perspective consistency is built on a foundation of high compete levels and urgency.
 
“You have to out compete your opponents, outwork your opponents, outmaneuver them, you have to win pucks,” according to Bazin.  “It's will, it's determination, it's edge, it's about 20 people being on the same page and having the urgency on the same shift at the same time.  We have to do that for 60 or 65 minutes.” 
 
While the River Hawks have struggled to find consistency a couple of players have begun to put together hot stretches.  Sophomore forward Scott Wilson (Oakville, Ont.) has a goal and eight assists in a four game span.
 
Junior forward Joseph Pendenza (Wilmington, Mass.) has also been a key contributor adding four goals and eight points in his last seven games.
 
Special teams are always a key.  The penalty killing unit, after a slow start, has killed effectively 12 of the last 13 shorthanded situations.  But the power play is still struggling.  It's been held off the score sheet in its last 19 man advantage opportunities.
 
History favors the River Hawks.  UMass Lowell holds a 55-40-7 edge in the all time series and a 27-18-2 advantage at home.  13 of the last 19 meetings with Northeastern have been decided by one goal, six have gone into overtime.
 
The Huskies are led by Hockey East's top scoring freshman, Kevin Roy.  The Anaheim draft choice is the Huskies leading scorer with seven goal and 13 points through 14 games.
 
Northeastern senior goaltender Chris Rawlings appears to be on his game.  The Huskies' all time shutout leader picked up his 11^th career whitewash and second of the season last weekend in a 1-0 win against Massachusetts.
 
Tickets for all home games are available for public purchase. Game tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for seniors (65+) and children (12 and under). As always, UMass Lowell students receive free admission by scanning their ID as part of the Mission: All In campaign.
 
Tickets can be purchased at the Tsongas Center Box Office, which is open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. during the week. Fans can also purchase tickets online at TsongasCenter.com or by calling 866-722-8780.
 
Season tickets will continue to be on sale through the River Hawk Marketing office and can be purchased by calling 978-934-4988.