Hockey East Title on the Line at TD Garden

WHEN: Friday, March 18, 2017 (7 p.m.)

WHERE: TD Garden / Boston

GAME NOTES: PDF / WEB

HOW TO FOLLOW
- WATCH LIVE (NESN) -- Alex Faust (Play-by-Play) // Billy Jaffe (Color Commentary) // Nikki Reyes (Rinkside)
- ESPN3
- RADIO: WEEI 850 AM -- Jon Rish (Play-by-Play) // Andy Powers (Color Commentary)
- LIVE STATS
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BOSTON COLLEGE vs. UMASS LOWELL
Championship Saturday is upon us and No. 3-seeded Boston College and No. 1-seeded UMass Lowell are the last two standing. The Eagles and River Hawks will meet for the first time in the championship bout. Saturday's showdown marks the ninth-ever contest in the Hockey East Tournament between the two programs. The Eagles have a significant upperhand with a 5-1-2 overall record over the River Hawks, going 2-1-1 in quarterfinal action and an unblemished 3-0 mark in the semifinal round. It's been 16 years since the Eagles and River Hawks have even faced one another in the conference tournament, the last time coming when BC ousted the Lowell, 5-1, in the 2001 HEA semifinal contest. UMass Lowell has won the last three games against the Eagles, including a sweep to close the season to help them into a three-way tie with BC and BU for the regular-season championship. Since taking over at BC, Coach York has amassed a 45-22-4 mark against the River Hawks. In all, Boston College is 64-39-9 and since Lowell head coach Norm Bazin's arrival, the Eagles are 7-6-3 in 16 meetings.

RED-HOT RIVER HAWKS
UMass Lowell comes storming into its FIFTH-straight Hockey East championship bout having won 11 of its last 12 games. The River Hawks possess a pretty balanced slate, tying for sixth nationally in offense (3.68 goals per game) and tying for 12th on the defensive end (2.34 goals per game). UML has the third-bet scoring margin this season, outscoring its opponents +1.34 goals per game on average. Lowell's power play has been a catalyst all season as the River Hawks are third, nationally, with a success rate of 27.1 percent (45-of-166). The penalty kill has been stingy, as well, owning the 10th-best unit and keeping opponents at bay 85.8 percent of the time. Lowell's 25-10-3 mark is the seventh-best winning percentage (69.7) in college hockey.

WITH THE SEMIFINAL VICTORY OVER BU...
- Boston College advances to its 17th Hockey East championship game after its second-ever win over Boston University in the Hockey East semifinal contest.

- Boston College is 17-6, all-time, in Hockey East semifinal matchups and will play in its first championship contest since 2012 when it defeated Maine, 4-1.

- All-time in the Hockey East Tournament, Boston College is 68-30-2. As a No. 3 seed, the Eagles have amassed a 14-4 mark.

- Friday's Hockey East semifinals win over the Terriers marks the first win over Boston University in the Hockey East Tournament since 2007. BC took down BU, 6-2, in the 2007 HEA semifinals.

- The Boston College – UMass Lowell championship matchup marks the first time in the Eagles and River Hawks will skate for the Lamoriello Cup.

OTHER NOTES FROM THE HEA SEMIFINAL
-Ryan Fitzgerald accounted for his second short-handed goal of the season and seventh of his career. The Eagles have scored 10 short-handed goals this season which is tied for second-most in college hockey with Robert Morris.

- R. Fitzgerald's 10th goal of the season stands for his 64th goal as an Eagle, putting him in a six-way tie for 28th all-time on The Heights, including tying head coach Jerry York. The North Andover, Mass. native surpassed that mark with his second goal of the night 58 seconds into the third period and now tied for 26th all-time with Warren Lewis (1946-50) and Brian Boyle (2003-07).

- Ryan Fitzgerald's two goals in Friday's semifinals win marked his first multi-goal game of the season.

- Julius Mattila is on a career-best three-game point streak after scoring his eighth goal of the season 1:58 into the second period. The Tampere, Finland native has accounted for two goals and one assist in his last three playoff outings.

- Jesper Mattila assisted on brother, Julius's, goal on Friday night. It marked the first time both brothers factored into the same goal this season.

- Scott Savage has tallied five assists in his last two outings for the Eagles. The San Clemente, Calif. native has tallied 22 assists this year and up to 27 points (5-22-27) this season.

- Christopher Brown tallied a pair of assists alongside Savage, marking his fifth multi-assist game this season. The Bloomfield Hills, Mich. native is up to 26 points (9-17-26) points this season.

- Joseph Woll made 42 stops in his 17th victory of the season over, tying a career best. The last time BC's netminder stopped 42 shots was against UConn at home on Jan. 24.

BOSTON COLLEGE IN THE HOCKEY EAST TOURNAMENT
Boston College owns an overall record of 68-30-2 (.690) in the Hockey East tournament with a record 11 Lamoriello Trophies (1987, 1990, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012) and the same number of tournament MVPs. Boston College will be making its 23rd trip to TD Garden for the Hockey East semifinals and 17th showing in the Hockey East championship game. Saturday marks the first-ever championship game against UMass Lowell.

BOSTON COLLEGE IN THE HOCKEY EAST CHAMPIONSHIP
Boston College advances to its 17th Hockey East championship game after its second-ever win over Boston University in the Hockey East semifinal contest. After the BU win, Boston College is now 17-6, all-time, in Hockey East semifinal matchups and will play in its first championship contest since 2012 when it defeated Maine, 4-1.

JERRY YORK IN THE HOCKEY EAST TOURNAMENT
Jerry York's nine Hockey East tournament titles (1998, 1999, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012) are the gold standard in Hockey East. BU's Jack Parker is second with seven. York is 58-18-1 (.760) in 77 conference postseason contests. Boston College has advanced to the semifinal round of the league tournament in 12-of-18 seasons overall under York (York's first semifinal showing was in 1997) and 12 Hockey East Championship games.

HOCKEY EAST TOURNAMENT SEEDING
The 2017 Hockey East Tournament marks the Eagles' fifth time they will be the No. 3 seed in the tournament. With the No. 3 seed, Boston College is 14 - 4 overall and advanced to the conference championship game now four times with that ranking. The Eagles are 1-2 as the No. 3 seed in the conference championship, having defeated New Hampshire in overtime in 1999. As the No. 3 seed in the Hockey East quarterfinals, Boston College is 9-2, having won its first seven games as the No. 3 seed in that round of the tournament.

HOCKEY EAST TOURNAMENT TIDBITS
- Boston College held the record for most consecutive victories in the Hockey East tournament (12 wins | 2010 - 2013) before Notre Dame upended the Eagles in 2014

- Boston College has won the most Hockey East tournament titles in league history (11 | 1987, 1990, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012)

- Boston College owns the most Hockey East championship game appearances in conference history (17 | 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2017)

Hockey East Title on the Line at TD Garden

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Players Mentioned

Christopher Brown

Ryan Fitzgerald

Jesper Mattila

Julius Mattila

Scott Savage

Joseph Woll