Greetings from Lawler Arena, where tonight the Merrimack College Warriors welcome #10 Massachusetts for a mid-week game. Tonight’s game is being streamed on College Sports Live. You can follow along for my live updates and analysis. If you have questions or comments during the game, interact with our coverage by commenting.
Our live coverage is free and available to everyone, but, we depend on our paid subscribers to fund our coverage. For our full coverage of Merrimack hockey, please consider subscribing to our pair tier by using the button below. If you have a merrimack.edu email address, take advantage of our special offer (50% off)
Liam Walsh gets a shorthanded breakaway and is hooked on his way to the net ... Geoffrey Miller makes no call ... but Miller does get Walsh for a high stick moments later in the corner. You can't make this stuff up. UMass will have a 1:16 5v3.
Big kill by MC. A few misfires - Bobby Trivigno kept a few clears in with a great effort at the point, but Merrimack gets the game back to 5v5 and survived its first headache of the night.
An incredible shift by Steven Jandric. He drew the penalty in the corner by moving his feet toward the net and getting dragged down. Then on the delayed penalty, Jandric made his way to the point and fired a shot that beat Matt Muray. Warriors up 1-0 and going on the PP.
Merrimack is 1-0 when leading after two periods this season (that's correct, they've only led once after two periods). UMass is 1-0-2 when trailing after two periods.
Warriors have to find ways to get clears that don't result in icings. A few times in the last few minutes, they've iced the puck and have been unable to get changes. UMass is pressuring, as you would expect. MC needs to manage the puck better in their own end.
These 3v3 OTs are painful. It was up-and-down action for a while, until coaches learned how to play it. Now, all it is are teams regrouping for 5 minutes.
Merrimack and and UMass are underway at Lawler Arena.
6 minutes into the game and not much has happened as far as scoring chances.
SOG just 1-0 UMass at the 13:13 mark of the first period. A lot of NZ play. Not many chances. Both teams starting very cautious.
Penalty coming on Merrimack. Logan Drevitch called for hooking in the offensive zone. No good angle of the play on replay.
Jefferies, not drevitch.
Liam Walsh gets a shorthanded breakaway and is hooked on his way to the net ... Geoffrey Miller makes no call ... but Miller does get Walsh for a high stick moments later in the corner. You can't make this stuff up. UMass will have a 1:16 5v3.
Jefferies is out. 5v4.
Back to 5v5.
Big kill by MC. A few misfires - Bobby Trivigno kept a few clears in with a great effort at the point, but Merrimack gets the game back to 5v5 and survived its first headache of the night.
MERRIMACK GOAL: Merrimack leads UMass 1-0 with 6:59 left in the 1st period.
An incredible shift by Steven Jandric. He drew the penalty in the corner by moving his feet toward the net and getting dragged down. Then on the delayed penalty, Jandric made his way to the point and fired a shot that beat Matt Muray. Warriors up 1-0 and going on the PP.
Interesting changeup on Merrimack's PP. Ben Brar is on the half wall and Jandric is the net-front guy.
Merrimack is 5-2 this season when scoring the first goal of the game. UMass is 1-3 when the opponent scores first.
Two big hits by Jandric on this shift.
1:00 left in the first.
End of 1: Merrimack leads UMass 1-0. SOG 12-9 UMass.
Game on in the 2nd
8 minutes gone by in the 2nd. Merrimack has had the better of the chances thus far, though no one has had real prime opportunities.
UMass back to the PP
UMASS GOAL: Minutemen make it 1-1 with 10:30 left in the 2nd.
I'm headed down to take some photos. Back in a bit.
Back from photos...still 1-1
SOG 16-14 Merrimack, 6-2 MC in the period. Both teams have had to kill penalties in the last 10 minutes.
MERRIMACK GOAL: Warriors take a 2-1 lead with 2:04 left in the 2nd period.
Shot from the point by Declan Carlile was tipped in front by someone. Not sure who it hit ... looks like Mac Welsher from the celebration.
1:00 left in the 2nd. I'll be doing intermission with Mike and John on College Sports Live shortly.
Merrimack to the PP with 55.6 left in the period.
It is Welsher's goal. From Carlile and Durflinger.
Merrimack is 1-0 when leading after two periods this season (that's correct, they've only led once after two periods). UMass is 1-0-2 when trailing after two periods.
End of 2: Merrimack leads UMass, 2-1. SOG 20-16 Merrimack (10-4 MC in the 2nd). Merrimack will have 1:05 of PP time left to begin the 3rd period.
Game on in the 3rd
Merrimack still on the PP
Mike Brown off for hooking. UMass on the PP with the opportunity to tie the game.
MC kills it. Back to 5v5.
Big scrum between Matthew Kessel and Liam Walsh leads to penalties. It's either matching, or an MC PP. Only Kessel's 2 minutes is on the board.
MC PP. Kessel received an additional 2 minutes.
UMass kills the penalty. 5v5 with 10:51 left. Still 2-1 MC.
5:53 to go, 2-1 MC
Warriors have to find ways to get clears that don't result in icings. A few times in the last few minutes, they've iced the puck and have been unable to get changes. UMass is pressuring, as you would expect. MC needs to manage the puck better in their own end.
UMASS GOAL: Minutemen tie the game, 2-2, with 3:22 left.
Shot from the point was re-directed by Lucas Mercuri, I believe.
1min to play
Timeout UMass
UMass ices the puck with 38.3 left.
9.7 left - offensive-zone draw for MC
Timeout Merrimack
Going to OT. Game is tied, 2-2.
Merrimack is 0-3 in OT this season. The Warriors have not yet had a game go to a shootout this season.
To OT we go
These 3v3 OTs are painful. It was up-and-down action for a while, until coaches learned how to play it. Now, all it is are teams regrouping for 5 minutes.