Men’s college hockey
MAINE vs. No. 13 PROVIDENCE COLLEGE
Time, site: Friday, Saturday, 7 p.m., Schneider Arena, Providence, R.I.
Records: Maine 13-18-3 (8-10-2 Hockey East), Providence 19-11-2 (11-8-1 HE)
Series, last meeting: Maine leads 66-44-7, PC 4-2 on March 15, 2014
Key players: Maine — C Devin Shore (13 goals, 20 assists), RW-C Steven Swavely (8 & 17), C Cam Brown (7 & 17), RW Blaine Byron (11 & 12), LW Nolan Vesey (10 & 11), D Ben Hutton (7 & 11), G Matt Morris (7-7-2, 2.86 goals-against average, .907); Providence — LW Nick Saracino (10 & 19), RW Trevor Mingoia (13 & 13), C Noel Acciari (11 & 13), LW Shane Luke (9 & 14), C Mark Jankowski (4 & 17), D Tom Parisi (3 & 10), G Jon Gillies (17-11-2, 2.00, .931)
Game notes: The Black Bears are 0-7-1 in their last eight games against the Friars and have lost five straight at Schneider Arena. They have scored only eight goals in their last five visits to Providence. They haven’t won there since Dec. 4, 2010, a 5-0 triumph. The Friars, behind South Portland native Gillies, are the sixth stingiest team in the country among 59 Division I programs, allowing just 2.03 goals per game. Gillies is 13th in nation in GAA and ninth in save percentage. He will be playing in his 100th career game. Providence has scored just seven goals in its last four games after pounding UConn 10-1. Swavely has a five-game points streak (1 & 6). Hockey East Rookie of the Week Vesey has four goals in his last three games. Acciari has goals in two straight and three of his last five. The Black Bears will have to play physical and attack the net. They must make life uncomfortable for Gilles by screening him and generating second-chance opportunities. PC head coach and former Maine assistant Nate Leaman is 7-2-1 vs. Maine.