FINAL: UMass Lowell 2, Providence 1
Shots on Goal: PC 16-8 (35-33 total)
Third Period
18:45 - The River Hawks have picked it up to close the final period and forced PC's Jon Gillies from the net in favor of an extra skater. In the final minute the Friars pounded Hellebuyck with hopes of tying the score, but it was not to be as Lowell advanced to its third-ever league title game.
12:30 - UMASS LOWELL GOAL, 2-1: The River Hawks have found the offense here at the Garden, taking a 2-1 lead in the final eight minutes of regulation. Senior captain Riley Wetmore fed a dish to a streaking sophomore Scott Wilson in the middle of the slot with a defenseman closing in tight for his 15th strike of the year.
8:49 - UML is looking to take its first lead of the game as senior Alex Velischek is off for interference. 35 seconds into the power play, White was robbed of his second goal as Gillies made a point-blank save after a PC defender lost his stick.
Some interesting stat sheets coming around Level 9 at the Garden tonight, and among them is official ice time tracking. River Hawk rookies Christian Folin (18:14) and Ryan McGrath (17:37) led all players in that category after the second period.
6:11 - As the penalty came to a close, the Friars got a good shot off on Connor Hellebuyck, but the River Hawks killed off the infraction to its senior leader from Swanton, Vermont with relative ease.
4:11 - River Hawk captain Riley Wetmore was called for slashing, giving Providence a perfect opportunity to convert on the power play.
0:34 - UMASS LOWELL GOAL, 1-1: Freshman A.J. White finally solved Jon Gillies as he pounced on a juicy rebound in the slot for his second tally of the season. A pair of junior linemates assisted on the play in Joseph Pendenza and Josh Holmstrom.
END OF SECOND: Providence 1, UMass Lowell 0
Shots on Goal: UML 15-7 (25-17 total)
Second Period
16:03 - UML's Riley Wetmore was denied by the pads of Gillies as he attempted a wide wraparound whizzing by the net. The play was reviewed, but the puck did not cross the line and the shutout remained for the Friars as the second period ticked down.
15:00 - Gillies just keeping it up with the spectacular saves as he robs Lowell junior Joseph Pendenza's sweeping shot right on the doorstep. The Friars will have to regroup quickly, though, as Derek Army was called for interference a short bit later.
12:57 - The teams still remain scoreless on the power play, with the Friars still maintaining a 1-0 lead. The River Hawks have really controlled the period territorially, but have yet to score on Gillies.
10:57 - PC junior Kevin Hart skated off for interference, giving Lowell another shot on the man-advantage, where neither side has found the back of the net in the contest thus far.
10:00 - Midway through the stanza, the River Hawks held a 8-2 edge in shots on goal over the period, but have been unable to beat Gillies.
9:30 - After an offensive scramble in front of UML's Connor Hellebuyck, Friar freshman Nick Saracino skated off to the bench and down the runway, holding his hand. Saracino, who was named Hockey East Player of the Week, scored four goals and five points in last weekend's quarterfinals.
5:00 - The sides traded chances over the first quarter of the period, but the Friars still hold a 1-0 lead. Gillies had held very strong thus far with saves on all 14 UML shots, including a point-blank pad save from the circle on Derek Arnold just after the five-minute mark.
0:19 - The Friars killed off the final 19 seconds of Harvey's carryover minor penalty and back to 5-on-5 in the very early going of the middle stanza.
END OF FIRST: Providence 1, UMass Lowell 0
Shots on Goal: 10-10
First Period
18:19 - The River Hawks will close the period on a power play as defenseman Myles Harvey was called for a late obstruction interference call. With just a minute left in the period, freshman Christian Folin's shot rung the post behind Jon Gillies, but stayed out.
17:11 - Neither side converted on the man advantage. The Friars are 0-for-3 on their first three power-play chances of the contest, but still lead 1-0.
15:11 - Scott Wilson countered with an interference call of his own, negating UML's first man-up opportunity of the game. In their respective quarterfinal series last weekend, the teams combined to go 5-for-21 on the power play.
14:28 - The River Hawks will get their first crack at the power play as senior Chris Rooney was called for interference.
13:00 - Despite the lead for PC, both sides made it to the midway point of the stanza in a 7-7 shots on goal deadlock.
8:59 - PROVIDENCE GOAL: The Friar fourth line connected for the opening goal of the game as freshman Kevin Rooney, a local from Canton, Mass., scored his first-collegiate goal on a backhand rebound. Johnston, R.I.'s Noel Acciari posted the assist. A second helper was later given to Chris' older brother Chris, who skates on the opposite wing.
6:29 - Junior Derek Arnold took a tripping call, but the Friars were held to just one shot on goal as Lowell turned in its second kill in a row.
3:35 - UML sophomore Terrence Wallin took an early hitting from behind call, but Connor Hellebuyck and the River Hawks killed off the first minor of the game to keep things scoreless.
Game 1 Pre-Game - lines, quick preview, etc.
Joshua Kummins covers Hockey East for SB Nation. Follow him on Twitter @JoshuaKummins.