Men’s college hockey
MAINE vs. VERMONT
Time, site: Friday, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, 4 p.m., Alfond Arena, Orono
Records: Maine 0-8-3 (0-4-0 Hockey East); Vermont 3-6-2 (2-2-2)
Series, last meeting: Vermont leads 25-22-4
Key players: Maine — C Will Merchant (4 goals, 0 assists), C Cam Brown (1 & 3), LW Blaine Byron (1 & 2), C Steven Swavely (0 & 1), D Dan Renouf (0 & 2), G Rob McGovern (0-6-2 record, 2.45 goals-against average, .922 save percentage), G Matt Morris (0-2-1, 3.15, .914); Vermont— LW Mario Puskarich (4 & 7), D Alexx Privitera (2 & 5), C Jarrid Privitera (5 & 1), RW Anthony Petruzzelli (3 & 1), RW Brady Shaw (1 & 3), D Yvan Pattyn (0 & 2), G Mike Santaguida (3-6-2, 2.53, .912)
Game notes: Vermont has won nine of the last 10 meetings including six wins in seven games last season. In addition to playing four regular season games, Vermont won the best-of-three first-round Hockey East series 2-1 thanks to a 3-2 overtime win in game three. Puskarich has been a thorn in the side of the Black Bears with six goals and two assists in eight career games. He was the first Catamount to earn Hockey East Rookie of the Year honors in 2013-14. He has 71 points in 74 career games. Vermont has allowed at least one power-play goal in its last six games. Maine and Vermont have each played six games against teams ranked in the top six in this week’s USCHO poll. Maine has to solve its woeful goal scoring issues in order to earn points this weekend. The Black Bears are the lowest scoring team in the country. They have been shut out three times in their last four games. They are generating plenty of chances but aren’t converting.