NO. 13 MAINE vs. PROVIDENCE, NO. 3 BOSTON COLLEGE
Time, site: Friday (PC), Sunday (BC), 7 p.m., Alfond Arena, Orono
Records: Maine 9-6-4 (6-4-2 Hockey East); PC 7-8-5 (3-6-4); BC 15-5 (11-4 HE)
Series, last meeting: Maine leads PC 61-37-6, Maine 5-0 on Dec. 4; BC leads 61-39-9, BC 4-1 on Nov. 21
Key players: Maine — LW Spencer Abbott (11 goals, 12 assists), RW Gustav Nyquist (6 & 17), C Robby Dee (9 & 11), D Josh Van Dyk (0 & 9), D Will O’Neill (1 & 7), G Martin Ouellette (2-2-1, 2.68 goals-against average, .893 save percentage), G Dan Sullivan (5-4-1, 2.80, .883); Providence — C Kyle MacKinnon (10 & 6), LW Ian O’Connor (6 & 10), C Tim Schaller (3 & 11), RW Ben Farrer (3 & 7), D Eric Baier (2 & 4), D Daniel New (0 & 5), G Alex Beaudry (6-8-5, 3.12, .905); Boston College — RW Cam Atkinson (16 & 11), C Brian Gibbons (10 & 16), LW Paul Carey (9 & 9), LW Joe Whitney (2 & 14), D Brian Dumoulin (1 & 13), D Tommy Cross (2 & 1), G John Muse (13-3, 1.96, .937)
Outlook: Hard-nosed Maine LW Joey Diamond wasn’t expected to play earlier this week but has recovered enough from his upper body injury to return to the lineup and that should give the Bears a lift, physically and mentally. Maine’s theme for the weekend is defensive awareness and tenacity. Maine has allowed 13 goals in its last three games, going 1-2. The Bears are eager to rebound from last Saturday’s embarrassing 7-1 loss at Merrimack. The Friars have a dangerous all-senior line featuring MacKinnon, O’Connor and Farrer. PC coach Tim Army feels his team will have to manage the puck well and limit their “unforced errors” which could fuel Maine’s transition. Maine is 6-1-1 at home and looking to climb back into the top four in Hockey East. Ouellette shut out Providence 5-0 on Dec. 4 after the teams battled to a 3-3 tie the previous night. BC has dominated the series in recent years, going 12-1-3 over the last 16 games. BC is currently riding a seven-game winning streak and the Eagles have won nine of their last 10. The Eagles will be rested since their last game was a 3-1 win at Providence last Saturday. Defending national champ BC is the third highest scoring team in the nation (3.85 goals per game) and tied for fourth in team defense (2.10 goals allowed). The Eagles are tops in penalty-killing efficiency (90.4 percent). Muse is third in the nation in save percentage and keyed BC’s 4-0, 4-1 sweep of Maine on Nov. 19 and 21 with 70 saves. Atkinson is tied for second in goals per game (.80). LW Chris Kreider, defenseman Patrick Wey and Biddeford’s Dumoulin earned bronze medals for Team USA in the World Junior Championships.