Not Quite Done

Hockey
Jon Pelland

UMass 2
UNH 2
End of Regulation

UMass loves playing at the Garden so much that it just doesn't want the game to end. There wasn't much action to speak of in the game's third period. I have just three things written down in my notes.

Matt Burto had a decent look at Regan. And Brett Watson crashed the net with 44 seconds remaining to one-time a shot that was saved by the goalie. The crowd overreacted a little to that one. Although it was an OK opportunity, it was still a straight shot directly in front of Regan.

Up in the press box we're wondering what happens to the second game if this one turns into another marathon like the Minutemen's last trip to the Garden - then FleetCenter. That will need some further investigation.

Minutemen moving on

Hockey
Jon Pelland

For the first time since its run to the championship game in 2004, UMass is returning to the TD Banknorth Garden and the Hockey East semifinals. A 5-2 victory tonight gave the Minutemen a two-game sweep of Maine. Here's coach Don Cahoon's opening statement at the postgame press conference.

"I thought it was a really gutsy performance by our club and for all the players in the locker room to be able to contain themselves in the moment. It's so easy for this thing to run away, especially when you have to play teams consecutive nights like we did [with Maine]. To just keep it in the present, our guys did an unbelievable job of just keeping it very much in the present to the point where we were just trying to win one period at a time. That's been going on for a few weeks now. I give them high marks for buying into that concept and for really putting in good practice."

UMass will face New Hampshire on Friday night given BU's overtime win over Vermont tonight to take that series, 2-1.