Hockey East Final: UNH needs win over UMass Lowell to continue season

BOSTON -- New Hampshire's seniors have been playing for their collegiate careers the past two games. They will have to do so again Saturday night against UMass Lowell in the Hockey East championship game at the TD Garden.

That's because the Wildcats are in the unusual position of sitting outside the top 15 in the all-important NCAA Pairwise Rankings. The River Hawks are guaranteed a spot in the field of 16 and will likely be a No. 2 seed in one of the four regionals.

UMass Lowell swept the regular season series between the two league foes back in November. Norm Bazin's team won, 5-3, at home before finishing the weekend with a 3-2 overtime victory at the Whittemore Center in Durham. Defenseman Zack Kamrass had four assists on the weekend, including a helper on all three goals in the series finale.

UNH goes for its first Lamoriello Cup since 2003 tonight against the defending champions from UMass Lowell. The River Hawks defeated Boston University, 1-0, in the 2013 Hockey East final, to end the coaching career of Jack Parker and end the season of the Terriers. It was the first Lamoriello Cup in program history.

Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. on NESN + in the New England broadcast region and on NBC Sports Network nationwide.

Jeff Cox covers college, junior and high school hockey, NCAA recruiting and NHL Draft prospects. Follow him on twitter @JeffCoxSBNation.