Men’s college hockey
MAINE vs. No.5 UMass Lowell
Time, site: Friday, 7:15 p.m., Tsongas Arena, Lowell, Mass.; Sunday, 5 p.m., Alfond Arena, Orono
Records: Maine 0-6-3 (0-2-0 Hockey East), UMass Lowell 6-1-2 (2-0-2)
Series, last meeting: Maine leads 75-36-4, UML 2-0 on Jan. 16
Key players: Maine — C Cam Brown (1 goal, 3 assists), LW Will Merchant (3 & 0), RW Blaine Byron (1 & 2), LW Brian Morgan (2 & 0), C Steven Swavely (0 & 0), D Dan Renouf (0 & 2), G Rob McGovern (0-4-2, 2.13 goals-against average, .934 save percentage); UML— RW Adam Chapie (4 & 3), C Joe Gambardella (2 & 5), LW C.J. Smith (2 & 5), C Michael Fallon (1 & 4), LW Ryan McGrath (3 & 1), D Dylan Zink (3 & 1), G Kevin Boyle (6-1-2, 1.42, .949)
Game notes: The last 13 meetings between these two have been decided by two goals or less. The River Hawks hold a 7-5-1 edge in those 13 games. UMass Lowell is the second stingiest team in college hockey, allowing just 1.44 goals per game. Maine is the lowest scoring team. The Black Bears have scored one goal or less seven times. UMass Lowell is a hard-working, blue-collar team that is clinically efficient. The River Hawks aren’t flashy but they receive balanced scoring, they rarely turn the puck and they defend impressively in layers. They are solid on special teams: 11th in the country on the penalty kill (90.3 percent) and 20th on the power play (20.5 percent). They are tied for 38th in goal production (2.56 gpg). Zink is one of the nation’s best offensive defensemen. He had 10 goals last year and has three already this season. Maine’s power play has to break out of its 0-for-29 funk and the Black Bears must attack the net and screen Boyle.