Pregame: Merrimack at UMass Lowell

LOWELL — Merrimack is at the Tsongas Center tonight to take on UMass Lowell. The puck is set to drop at 7:05 and the game will be televised locally and nationally on NESN.

The Warriors made one lineup change heading into tonight’s game. Slava Demin is back on defense alongside Christian Felton in place of Trevor Griebel, who dressed at BU last Saturday.

Norm Bazin, who spoke with The Lowell Sun, said the River Hawks will be without senior forwards Zach Kaiser and Brian Chambers this weekend. Chambers has missed three straight games and Kaiser broke his hand last weekend against Providence.

Kaiser is fourth on the team (second among forwards) with 16 points (8g, 8a) in 29 games. Chambers also has 16 points (6g, 10a) in 24 games.

Walker Holton and Geoff Miller will be tonight’s referees.

The Warriors have already clinched a first-round bye in the Hockey East playoffs. The next pillar is home ice in the quarterfinals, which the Warriors could clinch as soon as tonight.

Merrimack can only clinch home ice tonight with a win in regulation (3 points). The Warriors earn home ice this weekend with any combination of three points earned or three points lost by UConn. The Huskies play UNH tomorrow night but will be off tonight.

Merrimack can also clinch home ice this weekend (by virtue of finishing ahead of UMass Lowell) if they take at least four out of six points from the River Hawks (regardless of UConn’s result).

TV/Stream: NESN (NESN.com)

Merrimack’s Lineup