DURHAM, N.H. - Junior goaltender Jakob Hellsten (Ljusdal, Sweden) recorded his third consecutive shutout making 20 saves and senior alternate captain Harrison Blaisdell (Regina, Saskatchewan) scored the lone goal of the game as the No. 17 nationally-ranked and No. 6 seed University of New Hampshire men's hockey team defeated No. 11 seed UMass Lowell, 1-0, in the Hockey East Tournament Opening Round at the Whittemore Center at Key Auto Group Complex on Wednesday night.
With the win, the Wildcats improve to 20-14-1 and advance to the Hockey East Tournament Quarterfinals to take on No. 3 seed Maine at Alfond Arena in Orono on Saturday, March 16 at 7 p.m. on ESPN+, while the River Hawks conclude the season at 8-24-4.
Score: #6 Seed New Hampshire 1, #11 Seed UMass Lowell 0
Records: UNH (20-14-1); UML (8-24-4)
Location: Durham, N.H. (Whittemore Center at Key Auto Group Complex)
Date: Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Attendance: 4,032
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- At 10:46 of the first period, the only goal of the game was scored when Blaisdell deflected in a shot with his backhand on a pass from senior defenseman Luke Reid (Warman, Saskatchewan) to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead. Junior forward Robert Cronin (Plymouth, Mass.) had the secondary assist on the play.
- With 2:29 left in the third period, the River Hawks went with an empty net but were unable to score the equalizer as the 'Cats tallied their sixth shutout of the season.
- The River Hawks outshot the Wildcats, 20-19, while UNH went 0-4 on the power play and UML went 0-3.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:
- Blaisdell's goal was his 11th of the season.
- Hellsten now has five shutouts this season and is 15-11-1. His 1.93 goals against average ranks second all-time for a season in program history. Ty Conklin posted a 1.84 goals against average in 1998-99.
- The last time the Wildcats recorded three consecutive shutout performances was the 2012-13 season by Casey DeSmith against Maine, Vermont, and UMass Lowell.
- The 'Cats went 14-4-1 at home. The 14 wins are the most at home in 16 seasons when UNH also went 14-4-1 in 2007-08.
- UNH is now 15-1-0 this season when scoring the opening goal. The Wildcats are also a perfect 12-0-0 when leading after the first period.
- The last time the UNH won 20 games was the 2013-14 season when the 'Cats went 22-18-1.
- The last time the Wildcats advanced to the quarterfinals was a 7-2 win at Maine in 2021.
