Men’s College Hockey
MAINE vs. NOTRE DAME
Time, site: Friday, Saturday, 7 p.m., Alfond Arena, Orono
Records: Maine 10-16-2 (5-8-1 Hockey East); Notre Dame 11-14-3 (6-5-3 HE)
Series, last meeting: Notre Dame leads 5-2, Notre Dame 3-2 on Feb. 14, 2014
Key players: Maine — C Devin Shore (9 goals, 15 assists), C Cam Brown (7 & 16), RW Blaine Byron (9 & 11), RW Steven Swavely (7 & 11), D Ben Hutton (5 & 9), G Matt Morris (4-6-1, 2.56 goals-against average, .921 save percentage), G Sean Romeo (6-10-1, 2.91, .908); Notre Dame — D Robbie Russo (11 & 14), C Vince Hinostroza (4 & 21), LW Mario Lucia (17 & 6), RW Thomas DiPauli (5 & 16), D Jordan Gross (4 & 16), G Cal Petersen (6-11-2, 2.79, .900), G Chad Katunar (5-3-1, 3.00, .899)
Game notes: In the last four meetings, these teams have combined for 10 goals. Both teams are streaky. Maine has had losing streaks of four and eight games; a four-game unbeaten streak and a three-game winning streak while Notre Dame has had two three-game losing skeins and winning skeins of five and three games. The Fighting Irish will be bolstered by the return of Russ, the nation’s top goal-scoring defenseman who missed last weekend’s split with New Hampshire after being suspended by the league for two games for a slashing incident vs. Northeastern. Both teams have inexperienced goaltending. Freshman Petersen and sophomore Katunar have appeared in a combined 36 career games as have Maine freshman Romeo and redshirt junior Morris. Notre Dame is 2-6-1 in its last nine games and snapped a three-game losing streak with a 5-3 win over UNH last Saturday. Maine is 3-1-1 in its last five. The Black Bears will need to move the puck quickly to limit Notre Dame’s attacking zone time forecheck and do a better job screening the goalies.