HELLEBUYCK'S 25 SAVES BACKSTOP UMASS LOWELL TO 3-0 WIN AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY
Freshman goaltender Connor Hellebuyck posts third shutout of season with 25 saves for River Hawks

Freshman goaltender Connor Hellebuyck stops 25 shots for River Hawks

BOSTON, Mass. - Freshman goaltender Connor Hellebuyck turned aside 25 shots to register his third shutout of the season as UMass Lowell picked up a 3-0 win against Boston University on Friday night at Agganis Arena.

The visiting River Hawks broke a scoreless game with goals just over two minutes apart in the second period and then added a power-play goal with 5:05 left in regulation.

Lowell (17-9-2, 11-8-2 Hockey East) and BU (14-13-2, 11-8-2 HE) are now tied for fifth place in the Hockey East standings with 24 points apiece.

The Terriers, who got a 24-save performance from freshman Matt O'Connor, had three power-play chances and killed off five of the visitors' six opportunities with the man advantage.

After a scoreless first period, sophomore Scott Wilson opened the scoring when he fired a shot from the right circle that went off the far post and in at 5:35 of the middle stanza. Junior Chad Ruhwedel and junior Joe Houk picked up assists on the tally.

Just over two minutes later, the visitors doubled their lead off a rush. Freshman Gregory Amlong got the puck out of the Lowell zone with a pass to junior Josh Holmstrom, who found classmate Joseph Pendenza up the left side. A pass to the crease by Holmstrom intended for freshman A.J. White instead went off a BU's defender's skate and in.

On a power-play chance in the third, a shot by Pendenza from the left side was saved by O'Connor, but the rebound kicked out to senior Riley Wetmore, who backhanded the puck into the net from the foot of the right circle. Sophomore Stephen Buco also assisted on the play, which came at 14:55.

The offense was stifled for the majority of the game and was unable to produce good scoring looks on Hellebuyck and the River Hawk defense. The result marked the first time since a 3-0 loss to Notre Dame on Oct. 20, 2009, that the Terriers were shut out at home. BU's home winless streak now stands at five games (0-4-1), its longest since moving to campus in 1971.

Lowell sealed the season series against the Terriers thanks to their 4-3 win at Agganis back on Jan. 19. The teams will wrap up the series on Saturday (Feb. 23) at Tsongas Arena. Game time is set for 7 p.m.