The Catamounts (22-14-4) took the 1-0 lead at 11:42 of the first when Jonathan Turk sent a cross-ice pass to a wide open Kevin Irwin in front of
Kevin Boyle (Manalapan, N.J.). Irwin got free after a River Hawk defender fell, and poked the pass into the twine.
The opening goal was the first goal that UMass Lowell (21-11-16) allowed in the TD Garden in 242:25, since the 2013 semifinals against Providence. The Friars scored at the 8:59 mark of the first period.
The River Hawks quickly responded on a 5-on-3 power play at 12:18 when
Michael Kapla (Eau Claire, Wis.) sent a glove-side shot from beyond the circles past Brady Hoffman.
The tally was Kapla's first career postseason goal, and his third point overall. Great puck movement from
Dylan Zink (Madison, Wis.) and
Adam Chapie (Oxford, Mich.) set up the score. The helpers marked Zink's second career post-season point, and Chapie's third assist and fifth Hockey East post-season point.
The River Hawks went 1-for-3 on the power play in the first, while Vermont went scoreless on its only opportunity.
Michael Louria (Wexford, Pa.) scored the lone second period goal, and his first career post-season goal at 16:10. He broke along the boards on the bench side and his shot from the right circle snuck through the glove-side armpit of Hoffman. The assists were credited to
Michael Fallon (Glenview, Ill.), his sixth career post-season point, and
Jake Suter (Lac du Flambeau, Wis.), his third Hockey East post-season point.
The game-winning tally was the freshman's fourth of the season.
UMass Lowell received an insurance goal off the stick of
Terrence Wallin (Yardley, Pa.) when his shot was deflected high into the top corner at 8:46 of the third. The senior has now scored two Hockey East post-season goals, as his first came against Notre Dame this year.
Michael Colantone (Cave Creek, Ariz.) recorded his second career tournament assist, and second this season.
Joe Gambardella (Staten Island, N.Y.) sealed the game with an empty net goal at 1:24 on the clock, his fourth career Hockey East goal.
Boyle made 30 saves, including 12 in the third to earn the win.
Jake Kamrass (Atlanta, Ga.) had a team-high five shots for the River Hawks.
Hoffman stopped 32 shots for the Catamounts, and Mike Paliotta had a game-high six shots.
The River Hawks will face No. 1 seed Boston University in the 31st annual Hockey East Championship Game on Saturday, March 21st at the TD Garden in Boston, Mass. The game will be broadcast live nationally on NBCSN and regionally on NESN. UMass Lowell is 1-2 all-time in three previous meetings in the title game vs. the Terriers, which included a 1-0 shutout for the school's first ever Hockey East Tournament Championship in March of 2013.
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