Preview: Merrimack hits the road to play UMass and UMass Lowell
Merrimack hits the road this weekend for a two-game trip to play both UMass schools. The Warriors will visit Amherst on Friday night for the second time in two weeks. Then Merrimack travels to the Tsongas Center on Saturday to face UMass Lowell.
Two weeks ago, the Warriors split a home-and-home with UMass, winning at Lawler Arena but losing 5-2 at the Mullins Center.
UMass Lowell beat the Warriors 6-3 at Lawler Arena in October.
Merrimack vs. UMass
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Where: Amherst, Mass.
Venue: Mullins Center
Watch: ESPN+
Merrimack vs. UMass Lowell
When: Saturday, 7 p.m.
Where: Lowell, Mass.
Venue: Tsongas Center
Watch: ESPN+
Inside the Numbers
— It sounds like Zach Bookman has a chance to play this weekend. Bookman was hurt against Brown 10 days ago and missed last Saturday’s game against Northeastern. However, Merrimack coach Scott Borek said he had a good week of practice and was a game-time decision on Friday night.
“The two teams we're playing are going to pose a problem because playing them back-to-back will be a physical challenge,” Borek said. “That will be something we'll learn a lot about ourselves over the weekend.
“We’re familiar with UMass. They have only played two other games since they played us. They were both non-league games. We haven't played a lot since we played them. From the players’ standpoint, they’re very familiar.”
— UMass will be without Aydar Suniev, one of their top forwards. Suniev suffered an injury against Merrimack two weeks ago and hasn’t dressed since.
The Minutemen are looking to replicate the effort from the Saturday game, where they scored three power-play goals.
“I thought we came out with a lot of desperation in that game [against Merrimack],” head coach Greg Carvel said. “Every night, it’s about competing at a certain level and that usually decides every game, so it’ll be the same.”