AMHERST

For the past several years, smart fans have treated a good start for the University of Massachusetts hockey team with cautious optimism, avoiding getting too excited until semester break is in the rear-view mirror.

Too many promising Decembers have been negated by disappointing Januaries.

The 2009-10 season looked like it might be following the same problematic path when the Minutemen took back-to-back whippings from Boston University and New Hampshire in the first nine days of January.

But instead of fading, UMass bounced back with three straight wins, including two over a very good UMass-Lowell team last weekend. The sweep left coach Don "Toot" Cahoon's squad ranked No. 15 in the country at 14-8 overall and third in Hockey East at 9-6.

With 12 games over six weeks to go in the regular season, the Minutemen have momentum again and all their goals in reach. A Hockey East regular- season title won't be easy, but it's not impossible as UMass is just five points behind first-place New Hampshire.

A top-four finish and the accompanying home series in the first round of the conference tournament is very much in reach.

But the big prize is the NCAA Tournament. If the season ended today, the Minutemen would likely be in the field, but they can't afford to slide far and still get in.

A strong finish, starting with Saturday (7 p.m.) and Sunday (3 p.m.) games against Vermont at the Mullins Center would only strengthen their case.

The athletic department could use the good news. The hockey team is carrying the banner for UMass in what has been a tough year. No fall teams reached the NCAA Tournament and with both basketball teams struggling, the hockey team is the best attraction the school has right now.

There's plenty to like on the Minutemen. Statistically UMass has the best one-two combination in the country in forwards James Marcou and Casey Wellman. Marcou, an undersized and overtalented junior wing, entered the weekend leading the nation in points (37) and assists (30) and is a legitimate candidate for the Hobey Baker Award.

If Marcou wasn't among the contenders, Wellman might be a Hobey Baker candidate himself as the sophomore leads the nation in goals (17) and is eighth in points (30). The duo is part of the nation's third-ranked power play at 24.8 percent.

The Minutemen have gotten strong goaltending from junior Paul Dainton and solid defense in front of him.

There are no easy Hockey East games, but the schedule is both an ally and an enemy for Minutemen. Eight of their final 12 games are against teams that are now with below-.500 in conference play. UMass has defeated seven of its eight opponents already this season.

The Minutemen are never really out of a game because of their offense. They have come from behind five times and won six games in the last five minutes or overtime.

Only five of their remaining games are at the Mullins Center. But at 6-4 UMass has been solid on the road against a difficult schedule.

There are no guarantees, but it seems safe to drop the caution from the optimism now. The last two months of the season figure to be a pretty good ride.

Matt Vautour can be reached at mvautour@gazettenet.com. Follow UMass coverage on Twitter at twitter.com/GazetteUMass.

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