Too many similarities to the previous night’s effort resigned the UMass hockey team to a second consecutive tie against Vermont on Saturday.

The Minutemen took a three-goal lead with 12 minutes, 32 seconds remaining in the third period and squandered it for the second night in a row, finishing 4-4 after overtime. UMass (10-13-5, 4-11-3 Hockey East) won the shootout 2-0 to pick up the extra point in the Hockey East standings for the second night in a row.

“Unfortunately a mirror image of last night,” UMass coach Greg Carvel said. “Same exact thing. We played pretty well, built a sizable lead and absolutely gave it away. Ditto everything I said last night.”

Ryan Ufko put away his first hat trick in a UMass uniform after being ejected Friday. He scored 4 minutes, 26 seconds into the second period from Kenny Connors and Cole O’Hara and made it 3-0 from Scott Morrow and Lucas Mercuri.

In between, O’Hara found the net with an assist by Connors at the 5:25 mark of the second.

Then Vermont rallied. Isak Walter ended the shutout with 9:12 left, then Thomas Sinclair made it 3-2 with 6:44 on the clock. Joel Määttä knotted the game at three just 12 seconds later. 

Carvel pulled Luke Pavicich (11 saves) after that, making way for Henry Graham.

Ufko completed his hat trick 13 seconds later on the power play from Cal Kiefiuk and Ryan Lautenbach to restore UMass’ lead 4-3, but the celebration was short lived.

Vermont’s Timofei Spitserov tied it once more with 2:59 remaining.

UMass committed four penalties and killed all of them, but the Minutemen went 0-for-3 on the power play.

Neither team scored in overtime. Michael Cameron converted his shootout chance for the second night in a row, and Ufko sealed the extra point with a shootout goal.

UMass will face Boston College next week, visiting Chestnut Hill on Friday and returning to the Mullins Center on Saturday, both at 7 p.m. on ESPN-Plus.

Kyle Grabowski can be reached at kgrabowski@gazettenet.com. Follow him on Twitter @kylegrbwsk.]]>