UNH's Goumas, Downing officially out for Saturday's Northeast final

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Despite a 5-2 win on Friday night against Denver, second-seeded New Hampshire suffered a pair of key losses in centers Grayson Downing and Kevin Goumas for tonight's Northeast Regional final at Verizon Wireless Arena.

The Wildcats, serving as the weekend's host institution, will face against Hockey East rival UMass Lowell at 6:30 p.m.

Goumas, who leads UNH with 32 assists and 42 points this season, took a hit to the head from Denver junior Nick Shore that prompted a five-minute major penalty and game misconduct. Sorkin's injury occurred on a second-period collision.

Junior Nick Sorkin will center the top line with junior Dalton Speelman and senior Austin Block, while sophomore Jay Camper and freshman Collin MacDonald will both be in the line-up after being scratched on Friday."

UML had little problem in its opening round match, disposing of Wisconsin by a 6-1 score in a contest some considered to be the true "national championship."

Lowell won two of the meetings against UNH last season, but the Wildcats responded in a big way with a season series sweep (including two road wins) in 2012-13. However, all three meetings were played before December 2012 and UML star freshman netminder Connor Hellebuyck was not active in any of them.

Joshua Kummins covers Hockey East for SB Nation. Follow him on Twitter @JoshuaKummins.