HARTFORD, Conn. — Connecticut finished its regular season in dominating fashion, beating Massachusetts 4-0 and keeping hope alive for the final home-ice spot in the Hockey East tournament.
On senior night, the Huskies played one of their most complete games of their entire season. UConn had scored four or more goals just four times on the season going into Friday night.
“We challenged our team, if this was going to be the last game for us at the XL Center, to finish it the way we started it,” said UConn coach Mike Cavanaugh. “I think we did – it was evident in that first period. I thought we were really dominant.”
UConn struck twice in the opening period. Shawn Pauly added his fifth goal of the season to kick off the scoring 8:38 into the game.
“To come through with four goals for the team was a big deal,” said Pauly. “Hopefully, we can continue that momentum and carry it over to the playoffs.”
UMass, which finished the season in 12th place in Hockey East, had been improving as the Minutemen were 2-2-1 in their prior five games. However, their energy faded in the opening period as UConn outshot them 13-3.
“We didn’t play the 20 minutes in the first period that we needed to,” UMass coach John Micheletto said. “You can’t get down two goals to anyone on their home ice, especially with the short number of forwards we had.”
Rob Nichols returned to top-form once again as he denied all 29 UMass shots and secured his fourth shutout of the season. UConn had allowed 34 goals in their prior six games. If Nichols confidence was shaken at all during that stretch, he sure didn’t show it Friday night.
UConn (10-17-7) added a goal in each the second and third period to put the game away, including a beautiful five-hole move by Cody Sharib.
Friday night was the Huskies’ first multi-goal game since Feb. 4.
“I thought we created some turnovers on our forecheck [and] I think that started a lot of it,” said Cavanaugh. “We didn’t really get rewarded, we had a lot of riding time in the first period. I thought their kid [Steve Mastalerz] played really well, or it could have been more.”
Mastalerz (11 saves) was lifted in the second period after allowing a bad-angle goal to Trevor Gerling. Henry Dill replaced Mastalerz for the rest of the night.
“We didn’t give [Mastalerz] a lot of help in the first 20 minutes,” said Micheletto. “I obviously didn’t like the way the third one went in, but prior to that, it certainly wasn’t an issue with Steve.”
UMass (10-21-2) finished with a 5-16-1 record in league play, which pits them last in the conference. The Minutemen will now have to travel to the No. 5 seed in the conference next weekend.
“At some point we’re going to have to turn the page, but this should sting,” Micheletto said.
Cavanaugh took time to thank the fans after the game.
“I have to credit this crowd,” he said. “I commend the fans of Hartford for the support we’ve had all season long for our first season in Hockey East.”
UConn was second in Hockey East attendance coming into Friday night.
The Huskioes will now sit and wait to see if they end up on home ice or on the road next weekend for the Hockey East tournament.
