Following a disenchanting two games against the Providence Friars two weeks ago, last weekend’s series was no different for UMass on the ice. Boston University outscored the Minutemen 12-3 in the two games combined, handing UMass their fourth and fifth losses in a row. The games were not close. The Terriers completely outplayed the men in maroon.

UMass all around does not look like they want to win. They are not playing the full sixty minutes and it has lost them five games in a row. UMass is taking bad penalties, not shooting enough shots on net, not creating enough scoring opportunities and there are turnovers being made left and right, I could go on. Simply put: Coach Greg Carvel really needs to get a hold of his squad and snap this team back into playing good, physical hockey. They can do just that tonight in Durham. But, before that, a certain goal scored this past weekend just cannot be ignored.

That certain goal was not just any goal, it was a highlight reel goal for the ages scored by Terriers forward Wilmer Skoog receiving national attention. “Call it the Skoog” said NESN commentator Tyler Murray after No. 32 scored yet another lacrosse style goal. That was Skoog’s fourth Michigan move that ended up in the back of the net. Whether it’s called the lacrosse move or “the Michigan,” the move is a fan favorite, popularized by NHL players Andrei Svechnikov and Trevor Zegras. Now Anaheim Ducks player Trevor Zegras played college hockey at Boston University, perhaps inspiring Skoog to hit these highlight reel lacrosse move goals.

Now to the New Hampshire Wildcats. Tonight’s odds look good for the Minutemen because as of right now the Wildcats are ranked all the way down at No. 48 on Pairwise with UMass at No. 16. UNH has lost six in a row; this is the perfect matchup for the Minutemen to get back into the win column before heading to Ireland over Thanksgiving weekend to play in the Friendship Four Tournament in Belfast. UMass will look to take home the program’s first Belpot Trophy in the first tournament since 2019 due to the impacts of COVID-19.

Through the thirteen games that the Wildcats have played, they have two players tied at the top in the points category, with only seven. Those players are sophomores defenseman Colton Huard and Liam Devlin. Devlin, the forward from Needham, Mass. has not scored a point in six straight games. Perhaps consequently, UNH lost all six of those games. Between the pipes, senior David Fessenden has seen the most amount of minutes posting a 2.68 GAA and .910 SV%. However, New Hampshire’s last game this past Tuesday saw freshman Tyler Muszelik in goal giving up only three against No. 10 ranked Harvard.

With all that being said, UNH cannot be taken lightly, just like any team. Yes, they may be 3-9-1 on a six game losing streak but this is a team that was almost able to upset the Providence Friars back in October, forcing a tie but ultimately losing in a shootout. This is a must win game for UMass and after losing five straight, they need to be on their toes and take a forceful win against the Wildcats later tonight in Durham.