AMHERST -- The No. 1 UMass hockey team scored three third-period goals to earn a 3-1 win over No. 8 Quinnipiac in front of a sold out crowd at the Mullins Center on Saturday night.

The Minutemen (13-2-0) trailed 1-0 after 40 minutes but goals from Ivan Chukarov, Jacob Pritchard and Bobby Trivigno cemented the comeback win for UMass.

"I really liked my team's play tonight," coach Greg Carvel said. "I thought for 60 minutes we were a good hockey team. We got in trouble when we took penalties, we took too many of those tonight. Last night's game, I thought was a pretty even game even though it was 4-0. Tonight, I thought we were the stronger team for 60 minutes and deserved to win."

The victory salvaged a series split with the Bobcats (14-3-0) and kept the Minutemen's perfect record at home unblemished.

Matt Murray got the nod in the net for UMass and made 27 saves in his 10th win of the season.

"Murray's been lights out this entire season and tonight was another statement from him," Chukarov said. "I feel like he's just a wall behind us that makes us have confidence as well in the game."

The Minutemen had trouble creating consistent high-end chances in the offensive zone until Chukarov's goal at 5:27 of the final period. Chukarov's seeing-eye shot from the point fooled Quinnipiac goalie and Wilbraham native Keith Petruzelli (37 saves), ending five periods of scoreless hockey for UMass.

"We challenged them," Carvel said. "We thought last night Quinnipiac played their game and they were winning puck battles, and we showed video -- we've got to be heavier, we've got to win battles, and I thought right from the start we did a good job of that. But to see the mental toughness when you're playing well, you've played two periods and you haven't scored a goal -- you haven't scored in five periods -- the mental toughness and tenacity of the team to keep grinding, and eventually score a couple goals."

"When I saw the puck go in and fans started going nuts, it kind of built momentum there, got the energy going, Chukarov added about his first goal of the season. "After that, the guys were rolling and I felt like we were all over them at that point."

Pritchard's seventh goal of the season was the result of excellent pressure from Philip Lagunov and John Leonard in the attacking zone. The pair forced a turnover behind the Bobcat net and Lagunov hit Pritchard in front and the graduate transfer scored on a slick backhand deke to give the Minutemen the 2-1 lead.

"I think it was Ty (Farmer) and Phil (Lagunov) as well (but) a perfect forecheck that created the turnover," Pritchard said. "I was at the net and (Lagunov) made a great pass and I just tucked it in."

Trivigno's empty-netter at 19:34 clinched the come-from-behind victory for UMass.

"That's great college hockey and its great to see it in his building with 8,000 people," Carvel said. "It doesn't get any better than this. You beat a really good team at home in front of a full house -- I'm just real happy for my kids. They deserve all the good things that are happening to them."

The Minutemen return to action Tuesday when they host Yale in their last game of the semester.

Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.