SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.— Nolan Redler scored three goals and had two assists to lead the University of Massachusetts men's hockey team to a 7-2 win over Skidmore College in New England Hockey Conference action Friday night at the Saratoga Springs City Rink.
 
The Thoroughbreds remain in third place with a 6-4-1 league and 7-9-2 overall record. Only three points separate second and sixth places. Skidmore has seven games to play.  The Beacons are 5-5-1 and 10-6-2 overall.
 
UMB took advantage of an early power play for a 1-0 lead when Redler scored the first of his three goals on a rebound at 8:52 from Colin Larkin and Tyler Bishop. Ryan Cusin connected on a 2-on-1 at 14:04 from Larkin and Redler for a 2-0 lead after one.
 
The Beacons continued the pressure in the second period with Bishop scoring on a give-and-go through the neutral zone with Redler and Larkin at 3:00. Cody Wickline made it 4-0 40 seconds later with Mike Thomson and Gabe Chuckran assisting.  Redler tallied his second of the game from Cusin and Larkin to make it 5-0.
 
Anthony Bird broke the shutout when he forced a turnover by UMB goalie Bailey MacBurnie and scored his third short-handed goal of the season at 9:05. All three have come against the Beacons with two coming in the third period of a 4-2 win on Nov. 12.
 
Dakota Keene upped the lead to 6-1 at 10:29 from Drew Gannon and Daniel Nachbaur. Matt Bernot poked a shot through MacBurnie's pads for Skidmore's second goal at 13:44. John Litscher and Chris Javens assisted. Redler got the hat trick at 16:23 when Ryan Cusin fired one off the back glass that bounced in front.
 
Skidmore had a 38-31 shot advantage. Jack McDonald had 10 saves over the first 23:40, while Brandon Kasel had 14 saves over the final 36:20. MacBurnie finished with 36 saves.
 
The Thoroughbreds host Babson on Saturday at 4 p.m. The Beacons head to Castleton University for a 4 p.m. game.