Friday at Providence: Live Stats | Watch (ESPN+) | Watch (STRETCH) | Listen | Game Notes
Saturday v. Providence: Live Stats | Watch (NESN) | Watch (ESPN+) | Watch (STRETCH) | Listen
 
LOWELL, Mass.—The No. 18/19 UMass Lowell men's hockey team (15-10-3, 9-6-3 Hockey East) continues the postseason chase this weekend, Feb. 17-18, with a home-and-home series against Providence College (13-10-7, 8-6-6 HEA). The River Hawks hit the road Friday night for a 7 p.m. puck drop at Schneider Arean, before returning to the Tsongas Center on Saturday for a 6 p.m. faceoff. 
 
SCOUTING THE RIVER HAWKS
The River Hawks are eyeing a big weekend against Hockey East foe Providence. Last weekend, UMass Lowell pulled away with two points after a 1-1 draw with Maine leading to a 2-0 shootout win for the home team. Although scoring depth has not been an issue for the River Hawks this season, senior Carl Berglund continues to lead the team in goals, assists and points with just six games left in the regular season. Berglund's 22 points this year have come from nine goals and 13 helpers as he closes in on his career-best numbers. Behind Berglund, three River Hawks are tied in the points column with 16 points: Zach Kaiser, Brian Chambers and Isac Jonsson. Additionally, all three have put up career numbers during the 2022-23 slate across all three scoring categories. Jonsson's 16 points are also accompanied by the team's best +/- rating at +9. On the blueline, Jonsson is a member of a stacked defensive core. Junior Brehdan Engum has been key in shot blocking, making a career-best 47 so far this season. Engum is also a member of the River Hawks' killer penalty kill crew, which currently ranks second in the conference and fourth in the nation. Between the pipes, Head Coach Norm Bazin has two reliable starters in Henry Welsch and Gustavs Davis Grigals. Last weekend, Welsch impressed to claim his first shootout win and help UMass Lowell pull two points in the 1-1 draw with Maine. With the tie, Welsch improved to a 6-4-1 mark, a .925 save percentage and a 2.02 GAA. Grigals has similar numbers to Welsch, owning a 2.02 GAA, a .926 save percentage and a 9-6-2 record so far this year. 
 
SCOUTING THE FRIARS
The Friars have struggled to find their footing recently, posting a 2-6-2 record in their last ten games. Most recently, Providence stunted a five-game losing streak with a 3-1 win over Vermont on the road and a 3-3 tie to then #20/17 Northeastern at home. Across their last ten, the Friars have only been narrowly outscored, with their opponents putting up 27 to Providence's 23 goals. Senior Parker Ford leads the team in scoring through 30 games with 23 points coming from a team-high 10 goals as well as 13 helpers. Senior Max Crozier commands the Friars in the assist column this season with 19 so far in his 30 games skated. Crozier has also been a shot-blocking machine for the Friars, ranking first on the team and fifth in the conference with 51. Between the pipes, freshman Philip Svedebäck has stepped up in his first season to make 28 appearances, including 27 starts. So far, Svedebäck owns an 11-9-7 record, one shutout, a .905 save percentage and 2.25 to his credit. 
 
SCORING AGAINST THE FRIARS
Only four active River Hawks have lit the lamp against the Friars during their careers, and only one has struck twice. Heading into this weekend's home-and-home, Carl Berglund leads the way in scoring with two goals and two assists for four points all-time against Providence in his six games skated. Behind Berglund, Matt Crasa, Brehdan Engum and Zach Kaiser have all picked up goals against the Friars. Only one other River Hawks has picked up more than one point against Providence, and that is sophomore defenseman Isac Jonsson. Last year, Jonsson dished out a pair of helpers and amassed a +2 rating in his two appearances against the Friars. UMass Lowell's current goalie contingent has also never suited up against Providence during their time in the Mill City. 
 
ABOUT LAST WEEKEND
The River Hawks played host to the Maine Black Bears last weekend for a standalone Super Bowl Sunday tilt at the Tsongas Center. After a goal from Owen Cole just minutes into the action pushed UMass Lowell to a 1-0 lead, the Black Bears retaliated with a gritty goal on the doorstep to lock things up a 1-1. Those opening minutes marked the only regulation scoring either team would see as both goalies squared off in a defensive battle for the remainder of the game. A stalemate after 60 forced the teams to a bonus five-minute frame, where junior Henry Welsch put on a goaltending clinic as he fended off numerous close calls from Maine. With the tie decided, the shootout came next. Goals from Carl Berglund and Scout Truman coupled with Welsch's unstoppable stand between the pipes ultimately clinched the extra point for UMass Lowell to keep them in the fight for postseason home-ice advantage. 
 
GOOSE-TENDER OF THE MONTH
Graduate student Gustavs Davis Grigals was crowned the January Stop It Goaltending Goaltender of the Month by Hockey East earlier this week. Grigals finished the month with a 4-1-0 record in his five appearances. With just nine goals against and 138 saves, the Hobey Baker Memorial Award nominee ended his five-game stint with a 1.81 GAA and a .939 save percentage. Grigals, who is also nominated for the 2023 Mike Richter award, started the February slate with the nation's best save percentage (.933) and the third-best GAA (1.83) in the NCAA after capping the month with a shutout against Massachusetts.
 
#HOBEYGETSROWDY
Senior Carl Berglund and graduate student Gustavs Davis Grigals have been nominated for this year's Hobey Baker Memorial Award. The Hobey Baker Award is given annually to the nation's top Division I hockey player. The first phase of voting for the award opened on Thursday, January 19, and will run through Sunday, March 5.
 
PK POWERHOUSES
A notably difficult defense to maneuver at full strength, the River Hawks have been seemingly impenetrable on the penalty kill during the 2022-23 slate. UMass Lowell has allowed just 13 opponent power play goals in 94 opponent opportunities across 28 games. Heading into the back half, the tune has not changed for the River Hawks, ranking fourth in the country in PK percentage (.862) and second in Hockey East.
 
AT THE DOT
The River Hawks have been a force to be reckoned with at the faceoff dot this season, averaging a .538 success rate on the draw to rank fifth in the country. With 923 wins to their 792 losses, the River Hawks have held their opponents to just a .462 faceoff win rate through their first 28 games. 
 
A WIN THIS WEEKEND
Six points are on the line this weekend for the River Hawks. Aside from potential HEA standing implications, a pair of wins would move the River Hawks to a 57-63-11 record all-time against the Friars. Head Coach Norm Bazin would also close in on a 14-17-0 career mark against Providence since taking over at the helm at UMass Lowell. 
 
UP NEXT 
UMass Lowell continues its postseason push with a home-and-home series next weekend against Merrimack. The River Hawks open the weekend on home ice on Friday, February 24, before making the quick trip to North Andover on Saturday, February 25. Puck drop for both games is slated for 7 p.m. 

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