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Six teams are divided by five points at the top of the Hockey East standings, only four will get home ice in the playoffs.
 
There are seven games left in the regular season.
 
In other words, it's crunch time and there is a lot on the line every time the UMass Lowell hockey team laces on a pair of skates.
 
#12 UMass Lowell (16-9-2 / 10-8-2, 22 pts.) and #13 Boston University (14-12-2 / 11-7-2, 24 pts.) meet in a home-and-home series this weekend.  Friday night the two meet at the Agganis Arena in Boston, Saturday the encore will be hosted by the Tsongas Center.  The puck drops at 7:00pm each night.
 
“Stretch runs are full of anxiety, full of nervous times for some of the inexperienced guys,” says Head Coach Norm Bazin.  “It's exciting hockey, there's a whole different level of urgency this time of the year.  When you can get guys playing with some calm and composure it bodes well for your team.”
 
For the coach playing with “calm and composure” comes down to the little things.  “It's all a matter of bringing your 'A' game to the table,” says Bazin.  “If we have sharp (line) changes, if we pressure the puck, if we take the body…  those are all signs to me that we are on our game.  If we go through the process, the result will take care of itself” 
 
The results were there last weekend.  The River Hawks swept their series with Massachusetts, 6-3 and 3-2 to sweep the season series and retain the Alumni Cup.
 
The weekend's most impressive moments may have been t5he final two minutes Saturday night when the club kept the visitors penned in their own end of the ice unable to pull the goalie and add an additional shatter in hopes of getting the tying goal.
 
“There was a 'can-do' attitude,” says Bazin.  “Pressuring the puck is vcery important, that way you don't have to defend your own end of the ice.  I was very impressed with how we finished the game.”
 
Junior forward Derek Arnold (Foxboro, Mass.) had three goals and five points during the weekend and was named the Athletic Republic Hockey East Player of the Week.
 
“I think he's becoming a very good complete hockey player,” says Bazin.  “I can use him in a lot more situations in a hockey game than in the past.”
 
Arnold, who has scored six goals in his last seven games, and his teammates have taken to heart the mantra that all offense begins in the defensive zone.
 
“Because, when you're good in the defensive zone and we do a great job in the neutral zone,” says Bazin, “offense usually comes in bundles.”
 
In a sport where you win more times than not scoring three goals in a game, UMass Lowell has scored four or more goals in seven of its last eleven games.
 
Boston University, a supremely talented team, enters the weekend searching for consistency.  The Terriers have won only two of their last nine games.
 
The River Hawks have won three of the last four meetings between the two including a 4-3 decision, a month ago (January 19) on the Terriers home ice.
 
“That's a talented team,” says Bazin.  “They have a plethora of offensive forwards that come at you in waves.    
 
History does not favor the River Hawks.  Boston University owns a 68-21-8 edge all time including 36-9-3 at Terrier home sites.  UMass Lowell has won the last two games played at the Agganis Arena and BU has only won half of its home games this season.
 
If hockey fans are not yet in playoff mode, Saturday's game should help.  The Lamoriello Trophy, awarded to the Hockey East Tournament Champion  will be on display on the Tsongas Center concourse as part of The Road to the TD Garden. Fans are encouraged to take photos of the Trophy and tweet them @hockey_east using #hockeyeastRTG, which automatically enrolls fans in a raffle to win Hockey East Championship tickets.
 
Before the game two former players and a doctor will be honored in pre-game ceremonies, part of the fifth annual Bill Riley Reunion Night event.
 
Former on-ice standouts Chuck Sage (1979-83) and Ed Campbell (1993-96) will be recognized as Legends of Lowell Hockey and Doctor Mark Romanowsky will receive the Bill Riley Award.
 
The Legends of Lowell Hockey: The Long Red Line honors the history of the UMass Lowell hockey program, from its origins at Lowell Tech to the present, and the players and coaches who have played a key role in writing that story.  Those festivities begin at 5:00pm and include a reception, video tribute and speaking program. 
 
The Saturday night affair at the Tsongas Center will also feature the popular Star Wars Night promotion.  Characters from the movie series will be on hand to interact with fans throughout the night.  A series of Star Wars themed promotions are expected as well.
 
Fans planning on attending Saturday's game are also urged to arrive early to avoid expected traffic congestion associated with the City of Lowell's WinterFest 2013 Weekend.  A segment of Arcand Drive will be closed for the weekend.
 
For those who take utilize Thorndike Street from the Lowell Connector, it is suggested they loop around the WinterfFest area by turning using Dutton, market, Cabot streets and Father Morissette Boulevard.
 
After Saturday, UMass Lowell will have only two home games remaining on the schedule.  The next visitor will be Merrimack College on March 1^st.
 
Before that UMass Lowell will travel Tuesday to Boston College to play the game postponed because of the Blizzard of 2013.
 
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.