Gamez Sends Providence Past Massachusetts In Overtime, 2-1
Sophomore forward Garrett Gamez scores at 2:16 of overtime for Friars

Sophomore forward Garrett Gamez scored at 2:16 of overtime for the Friars
Prd Time  Team Score Type Scored By Assists
1st 4:46  PRV1-0 EV Garrett Gamez (3)Kasper Björkqvist/5, Spenser Young/9
2nd 11:48  UMA1-1 EV Ray Pigozzi (7)Niko Hildenbrand/5, Steven Iacobellis/13
OT 2:16  PRV2-1 EV GW Garrett Gamez (4)Jake Walman/16, Brian Pinho/25
Scoring 1st 2nd 3rd OT Final
Massachusetts  01001
Providence  10012
Shots on Goal 1st 2nd 3rd OT SOG
Massachusetts  965020
Providence  18145542
Team Stats and Records  PP PIM SHGF
Massachusetts (5-27-2)  0/4 9/26 0
Providence (20-9-5)  0/8 4/8 0
Massachusetts Goaltending MIN GA 1 2 3 OT Saves
Ryan Wischow (L, 4-18-2)62:082 17145440
Empty Net0:080      
Providence Goaltending MIN GA 1 2 3 OT Saves
Hayden Hawkey (W, 20-9-5)62:161 955019

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Sophomore Garrett Gamez's second goal of the night 2:16 into overtime gave the No. 10 Providence College men's hockey team a 2-1 win over UMass on Saturday night at Schneider Arena in the regular season finale for both teams. The Friars secure the No. 5 seed in the Hockey East Tournament and will host the No. 12 seed UMass in a best-of-three series beginning next Friday at Schneider Arena.

SCORE

No. 10 Providence - 2 | Massachusetts - 1

NEW RECORDS

Providence - 20-9-5 (12-7-3 HEA) | Massachusetts - 5-27-2 (2-19-1 HEA)

VENUE

Schneider Arena - Providence, R.I.​

GAME FLOW & NOTES

- Providence struck first for the second consecutive night as sophomore Garrett Gamez beat Ryan Wischow with a snap-shot on his off-wing for his third tally of the season and first since Dec. 30.

- Spenser Young recorded his third point in the last two nights on Gamez's goal, while Kasper Björkqvist also tallied an assist for the second consecutive outing.

- The Friars outshot the Minutemen by an 18-9 margin in the first, but came up empty on the power play (0/3).

- Providence nearly made it 2-0 early in the second period on a wrap-around attempt from Josh Wilkins that beat Wischow to the post, but didn't cross the goal line.

- UMass tied things up midway through the second as Ray Pigozzi put home a rebound of a shot from Niko Hildenbrand.

- The teams played through a scoreless third period, despite three attempts on the man-advantage for the Friars.

- Gamez tallied his first-ever two-goal game with his re-direct of a Jake Walman point shot just under the crossbar for his fourth strike of the season.

- Brian Pinho continued his point-per-game pace with an assist on the game-winning goal tonight. He know has nine goals and 25 assists in 34 games this season.

- Hayden Hawkey made 19 saves for the Friars, while Ryan Wischow turned away 40 shots for the Minutemen.

- The overtime winner was the first for Providence since Trevor Mingoia vs. Notre Dame on Feb. 19, 2016.

- The win marked the first this season for the Friars when scoring under three goals.

- Providence has recorded four consecutive 20-win seasons for the first time since 1988-92.

- Providence has now out-scored opponents by a 34-17 margin this season in first periods.

- Shots on goal: Providence 42, Massachusetts 20. Shot attempts: Providence 73, Massachusetts 38.

- Shot blocks: Providence 10, Massachusetts 23.

- The Friars are 15-3-3 over their last 21 games and finished just two points out of first place in the Hockey East standings after a 1-6-2 start.

HOW THEY SCORED

1-0 (PC) - 4:46/1st - EV - Garrett Gamez, (Björkqvist, Young) -Young broke the puck out to Björkqvist, who chipped up the boards to Gamez. Gamez deked in the high slot and sent a snap shot to the far post to beat Wischow's glove.

1-1 (UM) 11:48/2nd - EV - Ray Pigozzi (Hildenbrand, Iacobellis) Hildebrand's point shot deflected off of Hawkey's pad and to the back door for a one-timer from Pigozzi into the open net.

2-1 (PC) 2:16/OT - EV - Garrett Gamez (Walman, Pinho) Point shot from Walman, tipped at the top of the crease by Gamez to beat Wischow just under the crossbar.

PC GAME HIGHS

Points: Gamez (2)
Goals: Gamez (2)
Assists: Björkqvist (1); Pinho (1); Walman (1); Young (1)
Shots: Walman (9)
Face-offs: Hennessey (9/18)

POWER PLAYS

Providence 0/8
Massachusetts 0/4

LOOKING AHEAD

The Friars and Minutemen will face-off next weekend in a best-of-three Hockey East First Round series at Schneider Arena beginning on Friday night. All puck drops for the series will be at 7:05 p.m.