AMHERST – Tyson Dyck scored two goals in the second period, and the UMass hockey team defeated Brown 3-0 in a non-conference game on Tuesday night in the Mullins Center.
After two empty trips, UMass’ nation-leading power play broke the deadlock midway through the second period. UMass coach Greg Carvel summoned the first group off the ice after a disjointed rush, sending a second set of skaters while goalie Luke Pavicich corralled the cleared puck. Scott Morrow entered the zone then whipped a pass to Cal Kiefiuk – playing in his 100th game for No. 15 UMass – at the right circle. He fired the puck just in front of the crease, where Dyck stood firm to redirect it into the net for the opening goal 8 minutes, 23 seconds into period two.
Dyck tipped in his second goal of the night 2½ minutes later almost without knowing. Cole O’Hara fired a shot toward the front of the net that skipped off Dyck’s skate then bounced off his stick past Brown goalie Mathieu Caron to double the lead. He narrowly missed a hat trick all in the second period after stealing a Brown breakout pass at the blue line to create a one-on-one chance with Caron. Michael Cameron also received an assist for the play.
Dyck calmly skated to the net front, transferred the puck to his back hand but sent it high over the net with a minute and a half left in the second.
Morrow sealed the final margin with an empty netter with 29 seconds left to make it 3-0. He lofted the puck high into the air, nearly hitting the video board, and deposited it into the back of the net.
The Minutemen (9-7-3) failed to score on two power play opportunities in the first period. They matched Brown’s seven shots on goal in the opening 20 minutes. The Bears (4-10-2) blocked 10 shots to skew those numbers, though.
Pavicich stopped 33 shots for the Minutemen. He posted his second shutout of the season.
UMass was playing at home for the first time since Dec. 7 and won its second game in a row.
UMass will next face Boston College on Saturday at Fenway Park (NESN). The Minutemen last played at the Red Sox stadium in 2017.
COLE WORLD – O’Hara was named the Hockey East Rookie of the Week on Monday after posting four points in two games at the Kwik Trip Holiday Face off against Clarkson and Lake Superior State. The Nashville Predators draft pick scored two goals against the Golden Knights and had two assists against the Lakers.
It’s his first conference award, and he becomes the third Minuteman honored with the Rookie of the Week distinction this season.
Kyle Grabowski can be reached at kgrabowski@gazettenet.com. Follow him on Twitter @kylegrbwsk.