Men’s College Hockey
MAINE vs. No. 6 PROVIDENCE
Time, site: Friday, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, 7 p.m., Alfond Arena, Orono
Records: Maine 7-15-6 (4-8-2 Hockey East), Providence 17-5-4 (8-3-3)
Series, last meeting: Maine leads 64-46-7, Providence 5-2 on 2/28/15
Key players: Maine — RW Blaine Byron (8 goals, 13 assists), C Will Merchant (10 & 7), C Cam Brown (5 & 11), C Steven Swavely (8 & 5), D Dan Renouf (5 & 7), D Rob Michel (0 & 7), G Matt Morris (6-5-3, 3.15 goals-against average, .908 save percentage); Providence — C Mark Jankowski (12 & 15), RW Trevor Mingoia (8 & 19), D Jake Walman (13 & 13), RW Nick Saracino (8 & 14), LW Brandon Tanev (10 & 10), D John Gilmour (6 & 12), G Nick Ellis (16-5-4, 2.13, .927)
Game notes: The defending national champs are led by their nine-member senior class which includes six of their top eight scorers. Sophomore Walman leads the nation’s defensemen in goals (13) and points per game (1.18). Walman is tied for second among all players in the country in power-play goals (8). Linemates Byron (3 & 6) and Brown (2 & 4) have five-game points streaks. The Friars have impressive balance as seven players have at least 18 points. Providence has outscored its opponents 36-10 in the first period. Maine has been outscored 26-15 over the first 20 minutes. Providence is 5-5-1 in its last 11 games after a 12-0-3 start. Maine must match Providence’s physicality, protect the front of its net and attack the Friar net. Providence is 10th in the country in scoring (3.42 goals per game) and has the nation’s 18th best power play (21 percent).