Luke Antonacci and Nicholas Niemo scored in the third period as Maine rallied for a 2-2 tie against UMass in its Hockey East regular-season finale Saturday night at Amherst, Massachusetts.
Maine earned an extra point in the Hockey East standings by winning the shootout on goals by Niemo and Sully Scholle. The Black Bears (21-7-6, 13-5-6 Hockey East) will be the No. 2 seed in the conference playoffs and have a bye into the quarterfinals next Saturday.
UMass (19-12-5, 10-9-5) is the No. 6 seed and will have to play a first-round game Wednesday against Vermont.
Dans Locmelis gave the Minutemen a 1-0 lead in the first period, then set up Larry Keenan’s goal in the second period.
Antonacci cut into the deficit with 14:34 remaining in regulation. Niemo tied it with an unassisted goal at 9:47 of the third period.
Maine goalie Albin Boija finished with 40 saves.
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