AMHERST – There are no secrets in Hockey East play.
Teams see each other several times a season across a period of years. It eclipses familiarity and contempt. UMass and Merrimack met four times last season in a series decided by four total goals. Two games went to overtime. The Minutemen won all four.
The Warriors (3-2) visit the Mullins Center at 7 p.m. Friday before No. 5 UMass (4-0-1) travels to North Andover on Saturday (both games on ESPN-Plus).
“There’s recent history to bring in, there’s both teams understanding what the other team’s trying to do. It becomes a little bit more of a chess match in these games,” UMass coach Greg Carvel said. “There’s the awareness of each other and a bit of a rivalry with every team in the league. That’s why the intensity cranks up.”
The Minutemen will also likely engender some extra fervor as the two-time defending league champions. Their path to a three-peat will be littered with more challengers than recent seasons.
UMass lead six Hockey East teams ranked in the national top 20 at No. 5 with two first-place votes. Boston University landed ninth followed by UConn in 10th. Providence was ranked 13th with Northeastern No. 15 and UMass Lowell No. 18.
That’s after a comparatively disappointing showing last season with four teams in the final poll and just three teams that reached the NCAA tournament.
“I think it’s great,” Carvel said. “That’s where we need to be, and of course we need to win these early non-conference games for the pairwise. They promote the league and do great things for our entire conference.”
Despite the increased intensity and importance of conference play, the Minutemen remind themselves it’s the same game and they focus on their side of the board.
“It’s gonna be harder, but nothing changes. We still do the same thing,” junior defenseman Aaron Bohlinger said. “We prepare the same, we come out with the same mindset.”
BALANCE TO THE FORCE – UMass’ 14 goals in sweeping Union last weekend were scored by 11 players. Eighteen players combined for 40 points. No Minuteman has more than four goals (Scott Morrow) or five assists (Lucas Mercuri, Ryan Ufko).
“It’s better to feel like you can get offense from anywhere at any time as opposed to, alright, just one line is probably going to be effective tonight, I’ve got to wait every four shifts for them to try to do something,” Carvel said. “I don’t really name any line the top line or any line the bottom line. All four lines are pretty balanced.”
WHO’S IN NET? – UMass has used three netminders this season: Luke Pavicich, Cole Brady and Henry Graham. Pavicich has started four of the five games and Brady played one. Each has a shutout, while Pavicich leads the nation with a .962 save percentage and is third with a 1.267 goals against average.
“I’m way more concerned about the team in front of them. I think solid goaltending comes from a solid team in front of them for the most part,” Carvel said. “That’ll be the focus this weekend, we’ll talk with the staff and see where we’re at. I won’t make a decision until Thursday, but Pavicich will most likely – I would think – play Friday night and we’ll go from there. I don’t have a plan going forward. I’ll be day to day, game to game at this point.”
The Minutemen are in lock step with Carvel about whoever mans the crease.
“We play the same way every game,” Bohlinger said. “Everybody knows what we’re trying to accomplish, and if everyone’s pushing toward that goal, good things tend to happen.”
KEEP ’EM COMING – The Minutemen brought home two weekly Hockey East awards for the second week in a row.
Kenny Connors was named the Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week after notching five points (three goals) in the series against Union.
Cole Brady received the League’s Goalie of the Week honor for his first collegiate shutout, a 32-save performance Saturday night.
TOP OF THE TOWN – The Minutemen lead the nation in power play percentage converting 50 percent of the time, scoring defense allowing just a goal per game and scoring margin, outscoring opponents by 3.6 goals per game. They’re also second in shorthanded goals (two), tied for third in penalty killing (.941) and third in scoring offense (4.6 goals per game).
Kyle Grabowski can be reached at kgrabowski@gazettenet.com. Follow him on Twitter @kylegrbwsk.