Men’s College Hockey
MAINE vs. No. 13 VERMONT
Time, site: Friday, Saturday, 7 p.m., Alfond Arena, Orono
Records: Maine 3-9-1 (2-5 Hockey East), Vermont 9-3-1 (7-3-1 HE)
Series, last meeting: tied 21-21-4, Vermont 4-1 on 11/8/14
Key players: Maine — C Cam Brown (5 goals, 6 assists), RW Blaine Byron (4 & 4), C-RW Steven Swavely (2 & 6), C Devin Shore (4 & 3), D Ben Hutton (2 & 3), G Sean Romeo (1-6-0, 3.26 goals-against average, .893 save percentage), G Matt Morris (2-3-1, 3.02, .899); Vermont — RW Mario Puskarich (5 & 7), D Mike Paliotta (4 & 7), D Alexx Privitera (3 & 8), C Colin Markison (4 & 5), LW Mike Stenerson (3 & 6), G Brody Hoffman (7-1-1, 1.74, .930), G Mike Santaguida (2-2, 1.34, .950)
Game notes: This is a non-conference series. Vermont has won the last five meetings including a two-game sweep at Burlington earlier this month. UVM is 7-1-1 in the last nine vs. Maine. UVM is 3-1 in its last four games and has allowed just five goals. Maine has lost five straight. UVM is ranked among the top 15 in the country in every major category while Maine isn’t among the top 38 in any. UVM is 14th in goals per game (3.23), third in GAA (1.62), eighth in power-play success (.233) and third in penalty-killing (93.6 percent). Maine is tied for 41st in gpg (2.15), 51st in gaa (3.46), tied for 39th on the power play (11.8) and tied for 45th in penalty killing (78.3). Linemates Stenerson and Puskarich have combined for 5 & 6 in six games against the Bears while Hoffman and Santaguida are 6-1-1 against them and boast a .933 save percentage. UVM has killed off 23 of the opponents’ last 24 power plays. Maine must do a better job getting to the Vermont net and putting perimeter shots on goal against a good shot-blocking team.