UMass gets wake-up call
Holds off No. 12 Irish
AMHERST — UMass defeated two opponents last night: fatigue and 12thranked Notre Dame.
The 5-4 victory at the Mullins Center featured an explosive four-goal, seven-point outburst by the top line of left winger Ray Pigozzi (two goals), center Steven Iacobellis (goal, two assists) and right winger Austin Plevy (goal, assist).
The victory ended a week in which first-year UMass coach Greg Carvel admitted his team being jetlagged following the recent excursion to Northern Ireland to play in the Friendship Four tournament. Carvel stopped a midweek practice after 40 minutes to rest his weary skaters.
“I was very aware of that,’’ said Carvel. “But the guys are in a great place mentally right now, and we just have to match that physically.’’
The Irish were expected to have the energy advantage over the Minutemen, who lost defensemen Callum Fryer and Shane Bear to injury overseas (both upper body) and forward Kurt Keats (one-game suspension). Instead, UMass exhibited more jump, outshooting ND, 10-4, in the scoreless opening period as Irish goalie Cal Petersen, making his 65th straight start, was the difference.
“We were not sharp in the early part of the game,” said Notre Dame coach Jeff Jackson. “We didn’t do a good job of puck management. We have to match their work ethic (in tonight’s rematch).’’
Matters changed in the second period as UMass (47-2, 2-5-1 Hockey East) connected three times in a span of 6:10, including twice on the power play, to lead 3-0 after two. The Minutemen were rolling at 10:28 when Plevy, Iacobellis and injury-ridden Pigozzi clicked on a tic-tactoe play, as Pigozzi scored his second of the season.
“I was a little rusty but it was great to be back on the ice,’’ said Pigozzi.
The Irish (7-6-2, 3-3-1) came close at 13:47 but a shot by first-line center Jake Evans clanged off the left pipe. UMass quickly transitioned with Niko Hildenbrand going hard to the net. The effort paid dividends as the freshman arrived at the same time as the puck and knocked it in at 14:15.
The Minutemen enjoyed a 3-0 bulge at 16:38 after Iacobellis cut sharply across the goal and slid the puck under the leg pad of Petersen (19 saves).
The Irish then clawed back. Defenseman Bobby Nardella rang the post before freshman blueliner Andrew Peeke scored three seconds later at 1:08. Bruins draft pick Anders Bjork pulled the visitors within one with a goal off a faceoff play. Bjork took the puck, drifted a couple of strides to his right and snapped a wrist shot over the glove of freshman Ryan Wischow (21 saves) at 4:24.
UMass squashed the threat with a 5-on-3 tally at 7:57. Plevy made a pass from the right of the net and it caromed off sliding defender Dennis Gilbert and into the net. It was Pelvy’s team-high fifth goal.
“(Iacobellis) was open back door. I wasn’t trying to be fancy and saucer a pass over. I’m sure he would have buried it. But I’m happy the bounce went my way,’’ said Plevy.
The offensive fireworks weren’t over as Notre Dame answered with its own extra-man goal as Nardella scored with a shot from the point at 11:37.
Then Iacobellis won a draw to Pigozzi, who drilled home his second of the night at 12:46 and staked the Minutemen back to a two-goal cushion.
But each time the Irish responded. It was Bjork again, who gave his team life with a shot from inside the blue line at 16:01. Bjork leads the Irish in goals (11) and points (25).
“We’re definitely trying to close out games. It’s something we’ve been working on. It’s a mindset,” Iacobellis said. “We know they’re going to come out hard (tonight). We have to keep getting pucks to the net and keep getting those dirty goals.’’