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19th-ranked Vermont brings a four-game unbeaten streak (3-0-1) into a two-game Hockey East series against sixth-ranked UMass Lowell this weekend at Tsongas Center. The Catamounts and River Hawks face off on Friday (Nov. 4) at 7:15 p.m. and Saturday (Nov. 5) at 7 p.m. Live pay-per-view video is available via GoRiverHawks.TV, and pre-game radio coverage begins at 6:40 p.m. on Friday and 6:30 p.m. on Saturday on WVMT 620-AM with live audio via Sports Juice and Alastair Ingram on the call. 

RELATED LINKS
Video ($) | Audio | Live Stats
CatamounTV Preview | Game Notes (.pdf)

BACK IN THE RANKINGS
UVM has won three straight overall, all against ranked opponents, and moved into the USCHO.com poll on Monday at No. 19 while receiving votes in the USA Today/USA Hockey poll. Vermont is tied for ninth nationally in scoring margin (+1.50 goals per game) through six games. UVM also ranks second in Hockey East in scoring defense, allowing just 2.17 goals per game.

KNOCKING OFF DEFENDING CHAMPS
Craig Puffer scored a pair of goals, including the game-winner with 5:05 remaining in the third period, to lead UVM past reigning Hockey East champion No. 16 Northeastern 3-2 last Sunday in Boston. Matt Alvaro scored for the second time in as many games, while fellow rookie Stefanos Lekkas posted 24 saves to remain unbeaten in net. Senior co-captain Mario Puskarich picked up an assist on Alvaro's goal and led the team with seven shots on goal in his season debut. UVM has won six of its last seven games at Matthews Arena.

BLANKING THE WOLVERINES | Highlights
Lekkas posted his first career shutout, complimenting goals from Tom Forgione, Alvaro, and Rob Hamilton in a 3-0 victory over No. 11 Michigan last Friday at sold out Gutterson Fieldhouse. UVM finished with a commanding 42-21 edge in shots on goal in the first-ever meeting between the two storied programs. Forgione opened the scoring just 22 seconds into the contest, while Alvaro's tally was his first career goal. The Catamounts went 5-for-5 on the penalty kill and became the first team to shut out Michigan in almost a full calendar year. 

HONORS PILE UP FOR LEKKAS 
Lekkas won his third Hockey East award of October on Wednesday and was recognized as the league's Stop It Goaltending Co-Goaltender of the Month. Lekkas was the Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 24 and the Pro Ambitions Hockey East Rookie of the Week on Monday. The Elburn, Illinois native ranks seventh nationally in goals against average (1.50) and eighth in save percentage (.942). He posted his first career shutout last Friday against No. 11 Michigan at Gutterson with a 21-save performance in his home debut and had a shutout streak of more than 120 minutes snapped at Northeastern.

SCOUTING UMASS LOWELL
The River Hawks will play their Hockey East opener on Friday after splitting a series at Nebraska Omaha last weekend. Senior Joe Gambardella leads the team in assists (7) and points (12) and is tied with junior C.J. Smith for the lead in goals (5). Rookie Tyler Wall is 4-1-1 in six appearances between the pipes with a 1.92 goals against average and .927 save percentage. 

UMass Lowell fell to Northeastern 3-2 in last year's Hockey East Championship Game at TD Garden, then dropped a 4-1 decision to Quinnipiac in the NCAA East Regional Final, finishing 25-10-5. Former River Hawk Norm Bazin '94 is in his sixth year as head coach and has led Lowell to four consecutive Hockey East Title Game appearances and four NCAA Tournament berths. 

SERIES HISTORY
UMass Lowell has an edge of 24-16-7 in the series heading into Friday's 48th all-time matchup between the schools. The Catamounts fell 4-1 to UMass Lowell in the 2015 Hockey East Semifinal at TD Garden as Kevin Irwin scored the lone UVM goal. In 2013-14, all five meetings between the teams took place in a two-week span, and all five were decided by one goal as Lowell out-scored UVM 10-9 in the season series. 
 
WHO'S NEXT
The Catamounts complete a four-game road swing next Saturday (Nov. 12) with a 7 p.m. faceoff against UMass Amherst in league action at the Mullins Center. Pre-game radio coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. on WVMT 620-AM with live audio via Sports Juice as Alastair Ingram and Andy Merritt call the action.