Men’s College Hockey
MAINE vs. MERRIMACK
Time, site: 7 p.m. Friday, 4 p.m. Saturday, Lawler Rink, North Andover, Mass.
Records: Maine 10-17-3 (5-9-2 Hockey East), Merrimack 14-11-3 (5-9-2)
Series, last meeting: Maine leads 65-19-8, Maine 2-0 on March 8, 2014
Key players: Maine — C Devin Shore (10 goals, 16 assists), C Cam Brown (7 & 17), RW Blaine Byron (10 & 11), RW Steven Swavely (7 & 12), D Ben Hutton (5 & 9), G Sean Romeo (6-10-1, 3.04 goals-against average, .904 save percentage), G Matt Morris (4-7-2, 2.58, .918); Merrimack — RW Brett Seney (11 & 13), C Hampus Gustafsson (8 & 14), C Brian Christie (9 & 10), D Dan Kolomatis (3 & 11), LW Jace Hennig (8 & 4), D Marc Biega (3 & 6), G Rasmus Tirronen (10-7-2, 2.11, .929)
Game notes: Both teams are going in reverse. Maine is winless in four (0-2-2) games while Merrimack has lost three straight and is 1-5-1 in its last seven. Maine hasn’t won at Lawler Rink since Feb. 27, 2010. The Bears are 0-5-1 in the last six games at Lawler Rink and they have been outscored 32-11. Tirronen has a 1.70 GAA and a .947 save percentage vs. Maine but is 0-3 with all three losses coming last season. However, he is having an impressive season as he is 13th in the country in save percentage and 21st in GAA. Merrimack is 9-2-2 at home while Maine is 3-7-1 on the road including a current three-game unbeaten streak (2-0-1). Merrimack is the 12th stingiest team in the country (2.18 GAA). The Black Bears missed the net 33 times in the tie and loss vs. Notre Dame last weekend and must do a better job putting their shots on goal and driving the net front. They also need Romeo and Morris to bounce back from subpar performances last weekend and they must manage puck more efficiently to limit odd-man rushes.