Time, site: Friday, Saturday, 7:05 p.m., Gutterson Fieldhouse, Burlington, Vermont
Records: Maine 3-4-1 (2-0 in Hockey East), Vermont 4-1-1 (2-1-1 HE)
Series, last meeting: Maine leads 21-19-4, UVM 5-2 on Nov. 30, 2013
Key players: Maine — C Cam Brown (4 goals, 3 assists), LW Blaine Byron (3 & 4), C Devin Shore (3 & 2), C-RW Steven Swavely (2 & 3), RW Brian Morgan (1 & 3), D Ben Hutton (1 & 1), G Sean Romeo (1-2, 3.72 goals-against average, .883 save percentage); Vermont— D Mike Paliotta (2 & 5), RW Mario Puskarich (2 & 5), C Jonathan Turk (3 & 2), D Alexx Privitera (1 & 4), C Jake Fallon (2 & 2), G Mike Santaguida (1-1, 1.51, .941), G Brody Hoffman (3-0-1, 1.47, .937)
Game notes: Maine is expected to regain the services of alternate captain Stu Higgins, a center/wing who hasn’t played since Jan. 21 due to knee surgery and then a foot injury suffered during the preseason. UVM has won the last three meetings and is 5-1-1 in the last seven. The road team has had an edge in the series. Maine is 9-7-2 at Gutterson and Vermont is 10-7-2 at Maine’s Alfond Arena. Maine is 3-0-1 in its last four while the Catamounts are coming off a 3-2 loss and 2-2 tie at Notre Dame in which they outshot the Fighting Irish 80-51. Puskarich was the Hockey East Rookie of the Year last season when he had 19 & 17 in 37 games. Vermont has allowed just 1.50 goals per game and is tied for fifth best in the country. Maine is going to have to be tenacious in getting to the UVM net. The Catamounts have one of the nation’s best goaltending tandems in Santaguida and Hoffman. UVM is a perfect 19-for-19 on the penalty kill.