Box Score MALDEN, MA – Four goals against in the first seven and a half minutes of play proved the difference in the men's ice hockey team in a Valentine's Day showdown on Saturday, Feb. 14. After a loss in their game the night prior, every point earned would be vital in making a NESCAC playoff push with 3 games to go. On Saturday, it was Tufts facing Amherst with a lot on the line. However, the Mammoths started flat and were unable to recover, losing 6-1.

With the loss, the Mammoths fall to 10-10-2 (5-10-1 NESCAC) on the year while the Jumbos improve to (11-10-1 (8-8-0 NESCAC). Amherst will return home for the final weekend of their regular season, with Middlebury the next team to come to at Orr Rink. They will face the Mammoths on Friday, Feb. 20, with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:
 
* Tufts hit the ice on a hot streak, dominating offensively and scoring four goals in the game's first seven and a half minutes to take a 4-0 lead early in the contest. With the Mammoths' backs against the wall, they stepped up the effort on both sides of the ice, getting more shots and winning the majority of the faceoffs to attempt to swing the momentum in their favor.

* That push paid off with 1:25 left in the first. After winning the puck back in their own D-zone, the Mammoths broke out the rush. Quinton Gove got the play started, sliding the puck down the middle to Oscar Smink. Smink push it to Carson Baylis on his left, who skated to the middle of the ice and played Romulus Riego de Dios on the opposite side. Riego de Dios crossed the blue line and shoved the puck on net. Though his attempt was saved, the rebound fell right to Baylis, who scored to reduce the lead to 4-1 heading into the second.

* Though the teams went through the seconds trading blows, with both squads having extended offensive momentum and chances to score. Amherst's best opportunity was a string of shots during a two minute second period, starting with a wrap-around attempt by Vincent Velocci that was saved, and ending with a ripper from Riego de Dios that slid just wide of the net. However, Tufts was the only team to find the back of the net, doing so against the run of play at the 18:05 mark of the period.

* Facing a 5-1 hole heading into the third, the Mammoths needed to find an offensive spark, the Mammoths headed to the power play and put together a dangerous sequence, but could only put one attempt on net – Andrew Carmody rifled a shot from the point that was sticked away by Tufts' netminder Jacob Bylin.

* Tufts was able to take control of the game after the penalty, with Amherst committing one of their own, and saw out the victory with one more goal late to down Amherst 6-1.

BY THE NUMBERS:
* Amherst outshot tufts 28-27 in shots on goal but their early struggles defensively put the game out of reach.

* Baylis' goal was his third of the year and second in the last 4 games.

* First-year goaltender Lamberti made 22 saves after coming off the bench in early in the first period.