The Massachusetts hockey team gets a chance at redemption when it faces Boston College at Conte Forum for a best-of-three series in the opening round of the Hockey East tournament. The Eagles defeated the Minutemen in all three of their regular season meetings, with UMass failing to score more than a single goal in each contest.

Needing two victories to earn a berth in the Atlantic 10 tournament, the Massachusetts hockey team broke its six-game losing streak to claim a pair of wins against Maine at Alfond Arena. On Friday, the Minutemen kept their playoff hopes alive with a 5-2 win before earning the 4-3 postseason-clinching win the following night.

The Minutemen and Black Bears have switched places in just one month. However, if UMass wants to get into the HE tournament, they must win against Maine this weekend.

Just one month ago, UMass sat at the top of the Hockey East standings. Now, they are in ninth place, vying for a way into the conference tournament. While the Minutemen cannot claim a fourth-seed, but can get the sixth seed with a sweep of the Black Bears this weekend, while getting help from other teams.

The Catamounts defeated BU Saturday on their “Senior Day”, moving into a tie for fifth place with the Terriers and Huskies. Merrimack, along with the Minutemen, are still trying to clinch a birth in the conference tournament.

While UMass put together a better performance than it had over the past couple of weeks, it still wasn’t enough as it fell to Boston College, 2-1, in overtime. The loss, coupled with two wins by Vermont, currently has the Minutemen in ninth place and out of the Hockey East playoff picture.

The last time the Minutemen played B.C., UMass was in second place in Hockey East. After a 7-1 loss, the team sees itself sitting in the basement of the conference, and will look to get back into contention when they take on the Eagles on Friday.

Following a 4-1 loss at Merrimack on Friday, the Warriors completed the weekend sweep with a 3-0 victory Saturday night in Amherst. The loss was the fifth in a row for UMass, its longest losing streak of the season.

Saturday’s 3-0 loss to Merrimack at the Mullins Center was the final regular season home game for the five seniors on the team. Prior to the contest, UMass honored the careers of Justin Braun, Martin Nolet, Will Ortiz, Brett Watson and Dan Meyers.

The Massachusetts hockey team will look to snap its three-game losing streak as it faces Merrimack on the road. Although the Warriors are at the bottom of the Hockey East, they are one of the best when it comes to home ice.