Game-day information: Game 27 at Massachusetts
When	Friday, Feb. 6, 7 p.m.
Where	Amherst, Mass.  |  Mullins Center  |  Directions
Broadcast and stats	Live Stats  |  Video  |  Audio  |  Tickets
Notes and yearbook	Game notes (PDF)  |  2014-15 Yearbook  |  Media Center
Promotions	n/a
Social media	@GoNUmhockey   facebook.com/GoNUmhockey  instagram.com/GoNUathletics   Use #GoNU

BOSTON -- With just four points separating the fourth through eighth place teams in the Hockey East standings, the Northeastern men's ice hockey team will look to continue its ascent up the conference ranks on Friday night when the Huskies battle Massachusetts at the Mullins Center.
 
Recapping NU's 3-2 win vs. Boston College on Tuesday
Dustin Darou scored with 1:34 remaining in the third period to lift Northeastern into the 2015 Beanpot final with a 3-2 victory vs. No. 11 Boston College on Tuesday at TD Garden. The Huskies, who advanced to their third straight Beanpot final, will now face Boston University in the championship game on Monday, Feb. 9 at 7:30 p.m.
 
Colton Saucerman and John Stevens also scored for the Huskies, who beat BC in the Beanpot for the first time since the 2009 semifinals. Kevin Roy added two assists, while Clay Witt made 21 saves to help NU extend its unbeaten streak to five straight games and end BC's quest for a sixth straight Beanpot crown.
 
The all-time series with the Minutemen
Northeastern and Massachusetts are meeting for the third and final time in the regular season, with the Huskies holding a 46-27-10 edge in the all-time series. The teams have split this year's season series, with UMass picking up a 3-2 win in the first conference tilt in October before NU responded with an 8-3 victory in non-conference action on Dec. 16.
 
Scouting Massachusetts
Massachusetts is 4-5-1 since returning from the holiday break, and recently picked up three of four points against No. 14/15 Merrimack two weeks ago before dropping a 9-5 decision to No. 2 Boston University last weekend. UMass averages 2.92 goals per game, which ranks fifth in Hockey East, while its 4.30 goals against is last in the league.
 
The Minutemen have five players on their roster with 15 points or more this season, led by Walter Brown Award Semifinalist Frank Vatrano, who has 14 goals and nine assists on the season. Behind Vatrano in points are Dennis Kravchenko and Steven Iacobellis with 22 and 19 points, respectively. The pair is tied for the team-high with 14 assists.
 
In net for Massachusetts has been Henry Dill, who has made 19 starts and 21 appearances this season. He has a goals against average of 4.10 and a save percentage of .872.
 
Northeastern participates in eighth annual White Ribbon Day Campaign
Northeastern has partnered with Jane Doe, Inc. for the eighth annual White Ribbon Day Campaign. The Huskies will don white ribbons on their helmets for the remainder of the season to help carry a message that how we imagine and value manhood and masculinity significantly impacts our ability to end and prevent violence against women.
 
"By lending your voice and reaching out to the men and boys in your community, you will be part of the solution to end violence against women and making our community safer for everyone regardless of gender," said Peter Roby, Northeastern athletic director and Co-Chair for the 2015 Massachusetts White Ribbon Day Campaign.
 
Huskies off to a hot start in 2015
Since returning from the holiday break, the Huskies have been playing some of their best hockey of the season. NU is 6-1-3 in January, and recently had a six-game unbeaten streak that was tied for the ninth longest unbeaten streak in program history. During the streak (4-0-2) that dated back to Dec. 16, NU was averaging 3.50 goals per game, including 11 power play markers, which was tops in the nation in that span.
 
Offense starting to find the net
The Northeastern offense has hit its stride in the last 11 games with 37 goals, tied for the 11th in the nation in that span. Of those 37, 16 have come in the third period, which is tied for eighth in the country.
 
Power play explodes at UMass
After starting the season 0-of-18 on the man advantage, the Northeastern power play has emerged in the last 20 games, going 23-of-90 (25.6%), which is fourth in the nation and second in Hockey East in that span. NU's 23 goals on the man advantage are tied for the most in the nation in that span.
 
On Dec. 16 at Massachusetts, the Huskies went 5-of-9 on the man advantage, the most power play goals in a game since scoring five against Merrimack on Nov. 21, 1992. The outburst upped NU's power play percentage to 20.8% after entering the game against the Minutemen with a 15.9% success rate on the man advantage.
 
Cardiac canines
Northeastern is 6-1-3 since returning from the holiday break, and has come from behind in four of the last nine games. NU erased a three-goal deficit in the third period on Jan. 2 vs. St. Lawrence before potting a pair of third period tallies the next night against the Saints. Then on Dec. 6, the Huskies stormed back from a 2-0 deficit in the first period to top No. 19 Yale, 3-2. In the last 11 games, Northeastern is outscoring its opponents 25-13 in the final 40 minutes of regulation, and 14-3 in the third period alone.
 
Power play production
With Northeastern 15th in the nation in power play percentage (25-of-119; 21%), several Huskies have upped their point totals while on the man advantage. NU has 75 of their 188 points this season on the power play (39.8%), while Kevin Roy has 14 points on the man advantage, which is tied for eighth in the nation, tops in Hockey East and half of his season total (14-of-28). He is one of only 10 players in the nation with at least 14 power play points.
 
Sizzling start to the second half
NU was unbeaten in its first four games in January for the second straight season. It's the first time in program history that NU has gone unbeaten in consecutive Januarys. The last time NU was unbeaten in its first three games in January in two straight seasons was the 1965-66 and 1966-67 seasons.
 
Northeastern's grade-A chances
With 65 goals through 26 games of the season, Northeastern has done most of its damage from high-percentage areas. Of Northeastern's 65 goals this season, 60 of them have come from the grade-A area (92.3%).
 
That was fast
On Jan. 24 against Notre Dame, Zach Aston-Reese scored two goals in 10 seconds to break a 1-1 tie early in the third period. It marked the first time since Jan. 22, 2000 in the first period at New Hampshire that Northeastern scored twice in 10 seconds. Before that, the Huskies scored twice in six seconds in the first period against Illinois Chicago on Nov. 6, 1993.
 
Roy named Hobey Baker Award candidate
For the second straight season, junior forward Kevin Roy has been nominated for the Hobey Baker Award, which honors an elite NCAA men's ice hockey player who exhibits both athletic talent and strong sportsmanship.
 
Voting is now open for fans that would like to show support for the junior. Fan voting plays a crucial role as the field will be cut from the 68 players nominated to just 10 finalists. Those who wish to vote may submit a ballot at HobeyBaker.com once every 24 hours.
 
Help me, help you
Through 26 games this season, sophomore Dalen Hedges leads the team with 17 assists, which is tied for 27th in the nation. The Ottawa, Ontario native has an assist in 14 games this season, including nine of his last 16 games. Hedges has already topped his freshman year assist total (14), which he reached in 35 games last year.
 
Hot Sauce
Since returning from injury on Nov. 7, junior defenseman Colton Saucerman has made his presence felt, especially at the offensive end of the ice. The Colorado Springs, Colorado native is tied for fourth on the team with five goals this season. All five of Saucerman's goals have come on the power play this year, which is tied for 16th in the nation and makes him one of two defensemen in the nation with at least five power play goals.
 
Platoon between the pipes
For the second straight season, Northeastern's opponents have gotten a look at two of the Huskies' top netminders early in the season. Redshirt senior Clay Witt started the team's first two games of the season before Derick Roy got the nod in six straight games. Roy responded by making a career-high 38 saves on two occasions against two of the nation's top teams (No. 6/4 Colgate on Oct. 18 and No. 6/7 UMass Lowell on Nov. 7).
 
Witt ranks second all-time at Northeastern in goals against average (2.55) and first in save percentage (.924). He's tied with Marc Robitaille for fourth all-time in career shutouts (four) in 63 career games.
 
On Jan. 3 against St. Lawrence, Roy got his first start in nearly two months, and allowed a season-low two goals while making 21 stops en route to a 4-2 victory. In his last five games, he's posted a 1.77 goals against average and .933 save percentage. In those games, Roy is 4-0-1 in those games, tied for the second most wins in the nation in that span.
 
Witt named candidate for Senior CLASS Award
Clay Witt has been named as one of 20 candidates for the 2015 Senior CLASS award in collegiate hockey.
 
To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence – community, classroom, character and competition. The complete list of candidates follows this release. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
 
Derick Roy named Stop It Goalie of the Month
After helping backstop Northeastern to a 5-1-3 record in January, Derick Roy has been named the Stop It Goaltender of the Month, Hockey East announced on Feb. 5.
 
Roy, who went 4-0-1 in January, split time with redshirt senior Clay Witt throughout the month, posting a 1.77 goals against average and .933 save percentage. He allowed two goals or fewer in each of his five starts, including a 23 save performance in a 4-1 victory at No. 10/9 Vermont that handed the Catamounts just their second home loss of the season.
 
Benning chipping in
In addition to his high minute total on the Northeastern blue line, sophomore defenseman Matt Benning has found the time to contribute in the offensive zone, as well. The St. Albert, Alberta is one of 15 defensemen in the nation with at least 14 assists this season. Benning has nine assists in his last 11 games.
 
Trap game?
With the battle for Boston's bragging rights on the horizon, the Huskies haven't had too much trouble focusing on the task at hand. Northeastern is 31-29-2 all-time (.516) in games immediately preceding the second night of the Beanpot.
 
NU, Michigan State agree to three-sport deal
Northeastern and Michigan State have agreed to a three-sport, home-and-home series in 2015-16, as announced on Dec. 10 by Northeastern Athletics. The Huskies will host the Spartans in men's and women's basketball, as well as men's ice hockey on Dec. 18-19, 2015, before returning the games in East Lansing, Michigan, the following season.
 
"This is a very exciting opportunity for our athletic department," said Peter Roby, director of athletics and recreation at Northeastern. "We are thrilled and appreciative of Athletics Director Mark Hollis and our friends at Michigan State for their willingness to bring their teams to Boston and help us create such a fun weekend."
 
The road ahead
Beanpot Monday returns early next week as the Huskies try to end a 27-year drought when NU battles No. 3/2 Boston University in the championship game at 7:30 p.m. at TD Garden on NESN.

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