Nick VanTassell picked the perfect time to score his first career goal.

The No. 12 UMass hockey freshman forward tallied the game winner on Saturday night against Northeastern to give the Minutemen a 2-1 win on the road at Matthews Arena in Boston.

Fellow freshman Dans Locmelis picked up the assist as VanTassell buried the even-strength goal with 3:21 remaining in the third period to sweep the season series against the Huskies. That was the first and only goal of the final frame. 

Michael Hrabal put forth a herculean effort in the crease for UMass, saving 34 of the 35 shots he faced – and he helped kill off all 11 penalty minutes the Minutemen surrendered.

Head coach Greg Carvel challenged his team to be better on the penalty kill, and UMass most certainly stepped up to that task on Saturday as Northeastern’s special teams went 0-for-4.

Ryan Lautenbach got the scoring started in the first period with 4:31 left in short-handed fashion. Down a man, the junior received a pass from Cole O’Hara on a 2-on-1 odd-man rush. In one quick motion, he moved the puck from backhand to forehand and flipped it over the lunging Cameron Whitehead for his second short-handed goal of the season.

The Huskies evened the score late in the second period off the stick of Brett Edwards. Pito Walton and Dylan Hryckowian tallied assists. That set up VanTassell’s third-period heroics to give UMass the win. 

UMass (13-6-3) doesn’t play again until Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. on the road against Merrimack. Its 13 days off are the second-most in between two games this year.