Men’s Hockey
Hockey East Quarterfinals
UMAINE vs. NORTHEASTERN
Time, site: 7 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday (if necessary), Matthews Arena, Boston
Records: UMaine 15-15-4 (11-9-4 Hockey East), Northeastern 23-10-1 (15-8-1)
Series, last meeting: UMaine leads 55-52-19, NU 4-0 on 1/12/19
Key players, Maine: LW Mitch Fossier (8 goals, 28 assists), C Chase Pearson (16 & 13), D Brady Keeper (6 & 15), C Tim Doherty (9 & 8), RW Eduards Tralmaks (8 & 9), D Rob Michel (3 & 6), G Jeremy Swayman (14-15-4, 2.82 goals-against average, .919 save pct.); Northeastern: D Jeremy Davies (8 & 25), RW Liam Pecararo (10 & 17), RW Brandon Hawkins (9 & 18), C Tyler Madden (10 & 16), RW Grant Jozefek (10 & 14), C Zach Solow (14 & 7), G Cayden Primeau (21-9-1, 2.12, .932)
Game notes: There is no love lost between these two teams after Hawkins’ hit on UMaine freshman Adam Dawe ended Dawe’s season with a concussion. NU led 4-0 with 47 seconds left in the game. UMaine must channel its anger into an aggressive, physical series without taking unnecessary penalties. The Black Bears keep an eye on Davies and finish their checks to limit his influence. Primeau is one of 10 finalists for the Mike Richter (goalkeeping) Award. He stopped 52 of 54 shots in NU’s January sweep in Orono. NU has won seven of its past eight games, while UMaine is 5-1-1 in its past seven. UMaine senior LW Brendan Robbins has 5 & 2 in his past seven games. NU is more of a skilled skating team, while UMaine likes to use its size and strength to grind on the forecheck. Freshman Madden is a game-changer. Matthews Arena is five feet wider than UMaine’s Alfond Arena. UMaine eyes its first trip to the semifinals since 2012.