Behind a three-goal first period, UMass Lowell hockey defeated Providence, 5-1, in the Schneider Arena on Friday night. With the win, the River Hawks clinched home ice for the Hockey East quarterfinals for the first time since 2001-02.

UMass Lowell improved to 21-10-1 overall this season and 16-9-1 in conference play. The River Hawks can finish no lower than third in the Hockey East standings. The Friars dropped to 12-17-4 on the year and 10-13-3 in the conference. Despite the loss, Providence still clinched a playoff berth, its first since 2008, but remains eligible for either the seventh or eighth seed.

The River Hawks were on fire in the first period, burying three goals, including the game's opening goal at 2:07 into play.

Senior Michael Budd (Burlington, Ont.) scored the first tally, moments after he made a tremendous play to keep the puck in the zone with a stick lift on a clearance attempt. Sophomore Joseph Pendenza (Wilmington, Mass.) eventually found the puck in the corner and cycled to rookie Zack Kamrass (Atlanta, Ga.) at the point. Kamrass' shot was kicked out to the right, but Budd buried the rebound to take a 1-0 lead.

The River Hawks expanded the lead to two at the nine minute mark with a power play goal from sophomore Derek Arnold (Foxboro, Mass.). Pendenza and Kamrass cycled to Arnold on the far wing for a one-timer that hit a defenseman and deflected into the net.

UMass Lowell's final tally of the first materialized due in part to heavy traffic at the net front. Senior Tim Corcoran (Milton, Mass.) fired a shot from the point that was blocked by a defenseman, but Budd kept the play alive and found sophomore Josh Holmstrom (Colorado Springs, Colo.) on the doorstep for the score at 18:01.

The second period played much more even as each team scored once, pushing the margin to 4-1.

The River Hawks' goal came from Riley Wetmore (Swanton, Vt.), netting the puck off the back of replacement goaltender Justin Gates (Cranston, R.I.) at 1:09.

The Friars finally broke through at 8:10 into the second with a goal from freshman Ross Mauermann (Janesville, Wisc.). Daniel New (White Plains, N.Y.) posted up behind the net and found Mauermann on the edge of the crease, who went top shelf to beat Doug Carr (Hanover, Mass.).

The teams skated hard in the third and the River Hawks came away with one more tally before the final horn. Wetmore converted from the top of the near circle after collecting a pass from Scott Wilson (Oakville, Ont.).

In net, Carr picked up his 20^th win of the season, improving to 20-7-1, while turning away 23-of-24 shots on goal. Providence's Alex Beaudry (Cumberland, Ont.) fell to 11-17-4 after allowing three goals on 15 shots in the first period. His replacement, Gates, stopped 20-of-22 shots over the final 40 minutes of play.

The two teams will rematch at the Tsongas Center on Saturday night in the final game of the 2011-12 regular season. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.