ORONO, MAINE - The University of Massachusetts hockey team kept its Hockey East playoff hopes alive Friday night with a win over the University of Maine at Alfond Arena.

The Minutemen won 5-2, UMass Lowell defeated Vermont by the same score and Boston University beat Northeastern 5-4. That left UMass, the Catamounts and the Huskies tied for seventh with 24 points in Hockey East. Just two of those teams will qualify for the playoffs.

The Minutemen (17-16, 12-14) must remain at least tied with Vermont in the standings after Saturday's games to clinch a playoff berth, or win again at Maine and hope for a Merrimack loss to Providence. Vermont plays at Umass-Lowell again Saturday.

The Black Bears (16-14-3, 13-11-2 Hockey East) already have earned a playoff spot and need one point to clinch home ice for the quarterfinal series.

"It just keeps us in the mix," UMass coach Don "Toot" Cahoon said about Friday's win. Saturday "they're going to be fighting for their lives all night, and we're going to be fighting for our lives."

UMass defenseman Matt Irwin scored the first two goals of a three-goal second-period which gave the Minutemen a 4-0 lead. Right wing Casey Wellman assisted on three goals.

"It was a good effort, for sure," Cahoon said. "It was what we needed."

He added, "Our defense as a whole played pretty well."

Both Maine goals came on the power play, but they were not enough to recover from an early four-goal deficit. UMass senior center and captain Brett Watson put the game away with an empty-net goal in the game's final minute. "UMass outworked us," Black Bears coach Tim Whitehead said. "We came out as individuals and got what we deserved."

The Minutemen scored on two of six power plays, while Maine went two-for-five. UMass goaltender Paul Dainton turned away 24 shots as the Black Bears had a 26-24 shot advantage.

The Minutemen had scored just 12 goals in their previous nine games combined, but converted just 52 seconds into the opening period. Left wing T.J. Syner ended a 13-game goal drought when Wellman's wrist shot from the left faceoff circle rebounded onto his stick at the left post.

Just seconds after leaving the penalty box, Irwin camped in front of Maine goalie Shawn Sirman, and redirected defensive partner Justin Braun's wrister into the low, glove-side corner 3:17 into the second period.

Irwin's second goal came just past the midway point of the period, on third power play for UMass. His wrist shot from the left faceoff circle found its way between Sirman's pads.

Braun capped the second-period scoring by the Minutemen with 6:03 remaining.

His slap shot from the right point beat Sirman at the near post. Sirman, who made 13 saves, was then replaced by Dave Wilson. Maine finally scored on the power play when left wing Spencer Abbott roofed a wrister from the left faceoff dot with 5:30 left in the second period.

Black Bears defenseman Will O'Neill scored on a slap shot with 10:34 left in the game.

"We've got to come out (Saturday) and turn things around," Maine center Robby Dee said.