LOWELL, Mass. - Senior alternate captain Harrison Blaisdell (Regina, Saskatchewan) scored two goals and junior goalie Jakob Hellsten (Ljusdal, Sweden) posted his third shutout of the season with 21 saves as the No. 18 University of New Hampshire men's hockey team defeated UMass Lowell, 4-0, on Friday night at the Tsongas Center in Hockey East action.
With the win, the Wildcats improve to 18-14-1 (11-11-1 Hockey East), while the River Hawks fall to 8-22-4 (4-16-3 Hockey East). UNH's 18-14-1 record is its best after the first 33 games of the season in 11 years when the Wildcats were 18-9-6 in 2012-13.
UNH outshot UML, 22-21.
UP NEXT:
- UNH will conclude the regular season versus UMass Lowell on Saturday, March 9 for Senior Night at the Whittemore Center at Key Auto Group Complex presented by Harvard Pilgrim Health Care at 7:30 p.m.
- Go to UNHWildcats.com/Tickets.or call the ticket office at (603) 862-4000 to catch the most exciting family entertainment in New Hampshire.
Score: #18 New Hampshire 4, UMass Lowell 0
Records: UNH (18-14-1, 11-11-1 Hockey East); UML (8-22-4, 4-16-3 Hockey East)
Location: Lowell, Mass. (Tsongas Center)
Date: Friday, March 8, 2024
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Wildcats took an early 1-0 lead at 3:10 of the first period when senior forward Nick Cafarelli (Middleton, Mass.) scored on a one-timer from the slot to the glove side of the net off a pass by freshman forward Nick Ring (Hingham, Mass.) for his sixth goal of the year.
- UNH increased the advantage to 2-0 at 18:11 as junior forward Robert Cronin (Plymouth, Mass.) sent the puck from the side of the net through the crease to Blaisdell who knocked it into the goal for his ninth goal of the season. Freshman forward J.P. Turner (East Falmouth, Mass.) also posted an assist.
- The 'Cats went up 3-0 at 1:47 of the second period when freshman forward Ryan Conmy (Alexandria, Va.) fired a shot from the slot to the upper stick side corner for his 14th goal of the year. Sophomore forward Cy LeClerc (Brentwood, N.H.) tallied an assist on the goal.
- Then just 54 seconds later, Blaisdell netted his second goal of the contest at 2:41 when he redirected a pass from Turner to the back of the net to make the score 4-0. He now has 10 goals on the year. Freshman defenseman Brendan Fitzgerald (North Reading, Mass.) recorded an assist.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:
- Conmy has 30 points on the season with 14 goals and 16 assists. The last time a Wildcat totaled at least 30 points was Tyler Kelleher when he recorded 63 in 2016-17.
- This was the first multi-goal game for Blaisdell during his Wildcat career.
- Turner now has two multi-point games this season.
- The 'Cats have posted four shutouts.
- The Wildcats are 11-3-0 after a loss this season.
- UNH is 15-13-7 all-time versus the River Hawks at Tsongas Center.
