College hockey
MAINE vs. VERMONT
Time, site: Friday, Saturday, 7 p.m., Alfond Arena
Records: Maine 3-3-1, 0-1-1 Hockey East; Vermont 2-2-1 (1-1-0)
Series, last meeting: Maine leads 20-16-4, UVM 3-0 on Feb. 9, 2012
Key players: Maine — LW Mark Anthoine (4 goals, 2 assists), RW Blaine Byron (2 & 3), C Cam Brown (1 & 4), D Ben Hutton (2 & 2), C Devin Shore (1 & 3), D Jake Rutt (1 & 2), G Martin Ouellette (3-3-1, 2.39 goals-against average, .919 save percentage); Vermont— D Rob Hamilton (1 & 4), RW Chris McCarthy (2 & 2), C Robert Polesello (2 & 1), D Nick Bruneteau (1 & 2), C Matt White (1 & 2), C Jake Fallon (1 & 2), G Mike Santaguida (2-2-1, 2.56, .913)
Game notes: The Black Bears will try to create an up-tempo pace against a defense-minded Vermont team that prides itself in its shot-blocking. The Catamounts have played four of their five games against top 10 teams, losing and tying at North Dakota and splitting with Notre Dame. Notre Dame scored twice in the final 6:42 to rally past the Catamounts 3-2 on Saturday. Maine has scored two goals or less in five of its seven games and the Black Bears are continuously working on the offensive aspects of their game. Santaguida is a freshman and has played in every game in place of the injured Brody Hoffman. Playing his first game at Alfond Arena could be challenging especially considering Maine is 3-0 at home this season. UVM coach Kevin Sneddon is one win away from his 200th career coaching win including his 150th at UVM. Maine has scored at least one power-play goal in its last four games (6-for-24) while UVM has the nation’s ninth-best penalty-killing percentage (89.7 percent). Saturday is Military Appreciation Night. UVM has allowed just eight goals in its last four games.