ORONO – In hockey, goaltending often decides the outcome. That is especially true in the playoffs, which usually feature tight-checking hockey. Scoring chances are at a premium and the goalie that comes up with the key saves wins.

It will be no different this weekend when the University of Maine’s Black Bears, 30-8-2, and the University of Minnesota’s Golden Gophers, 30-8-5, square off in their NCAA quarterfinal series at the Alfond Arena here on Friday, Saturday and, if necessary, Sunday evenings at 7 o’clock.

When it comes to NCAA Tournament play, University of Maine goaltenders Garth Snow and Mike Dunham have a total of 1 minute and 56 seconds worth of experience. Snow played the last 1:56 of Maine’s 7-4 loss to Minnesota in the NCAA Final Four in St. Paul, Minn., two years ago.

“That makes me a cagey veteran. I can see it in my sleep,” joked Snow. “Actually, that minute and 56 seconds seemed like 20 minutes.”

Freshman Dunham, who will play Friday night’s game, and sophomore Snow, who will play on Saturday, are ready for the challenge.

“I’m just looking at it as any other game,” said Dunham. “There’s more significance and a lot of hype, but you’ve got to block it out.”

Snow said Minnesota is a “lot like Northern Michigan” and Dunham agreed.

“Minnesota is fast, they’ve got good forwards and their defense gets involved in the offense,” said Dunham. “You’ve got to stay focused and concentrate.”

“We just don’t want to give up any bad goals,” said Snow.

Snow and Dunham will be opposed by Jeff Stolp and Tom Newman, who each won games in the three-game NCAA first-round series triumph over Providence.

Maine will be bolstered by the return to action of junior tri-captain and right winger Mike Barkley and senior defenseman Brian Straub. Both have been sidelined by knee injuries. Barkley’s return has been known for a few days, but Straub’s status wasn’t officially determined until Thursday.

“It feels great,” said Straub. “I’m a little surprised. Three or four days ago, it was really tender. Dick Young (Maine trainer) is a magic man. He did a lot of rehabilitation work with me.”

Straub is Maine’s leading goal scorer among defensemen with 6 and he has 4 goals (and 6 assists) in his last 8 games. He has 3 & 11 on the power play.

“Having Mike and Brian back gives us a big lift,” said Maine Coach Shawn Walsh.

Both teams know what they have to do to win the series.

“One of the real subtle keys could be our discipline,” said Walsh. “We’ve got to continue to stay away from penalties like we have all year.”

Minnesota has racked up 918 penalty minutes compared to Maine’s 584.

But there are a lot of similarities.

“We both have a lot of fast forwards and strong defensemen and each team skates four lines,” said Minnesota senior C Jason Miller.

“It’ll be great hockey,” said Gopher senior RW Ben Hankinson. “It’ll be fast. I know their fans will be into it and Shawn Walsh is one of the most competitive coaches in college hockey.”

“The team Gopher RW Trent Klatt.

“It’s too bad it’s not a Final Four game,” said Gopher Coach Doug Woog.

“We’ve got to play good defense first and let our offense come off that,” said Bear center Dave LaCouture.