LOWELL – After the tumultuous season Northeastern has been riding all season, the Huskies were finally laid to rest at Tsongus Arena, losing to UMass-Lowell, 4-1 as the Riverhawks clinched the eighth and final playoff spot in Hockey East.

The Riverhawks will play New Hampshire next weekend while Northeastern will be the one team staying home in the East

Ed McGrane scored the game winning goal and later assisted on two others to lead the charge on Lowell’s senior night in front of 3,924.

‘?I thought Lowell played extremely hard,’ said Northeastern coach Bruce Crowder. ‘?They played pretty hard for three periods.’

Lowell, which outshot NU all three frames won the overall shots on goal chart 45-17.

Crowder started Keni Gibson in net and the sophomore responded with 41 saves in the effort.

‘?I just wish things could have been better,’ said Gibson. ‘?I never have a problem facing a lot of shots. I was excited about the opportunity.’

Once NU announced the goaltending switch, Lowell coach Blaise McDonald decided what his best strategy was going to be.

‘?We wanted to make him think by putting a lot of shots on him early,’ he said. ‘?But he played real well.’

McGrane’s game winner came 1:23 into the third period when he stole the puck at the blue line and skated in uncontested against Gibson who made the initial stop on to have the puck trickle in. It was the second goal on two shots that Gibson allowed as Ben Walter scored with 10 remaining in the second period on a shot that deflected high in the air and fell behind Gibson’s left shoulder.

Matt Collar who has never scored a collegiate goal, made it 3-1 when he scored right off the draw ands beat Gibson short side. He later ended all hope of an NU comeback when he banked the puck off the side boards at center ice and the puck dribbled into the empty net.

‘?Finally,’ said McDonald. ‘?Finally the hockey gods are smiling upon us.’

Gibson held a 1-0 lead and stopped Lowell’s first 29 shots. Jason Guerriero scored the first goal from the side after two initial shots, one by Mike Ryan and one by Mike Morris and Guerriero got the puck on the near side and put it home.

NU finishes the year at 10-21-3, its worst season in four years dating back to 1998.

NOTES: Mike Ryan was held scoreless in his final game as a Husky. The senior, however, did tally 112 career points in 134 games. He ended with 63 goals and 49 assists ‘ Mike Gilhooly finished his NU career at 21-33-8, compiled a .887 save percentage and a 3.26 goals against average.