MAINE vs. NOTRE DAME

Time and site: Friday night, 7 p.m., Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland; Saturday, 8 p.m., Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine, 7-1; Notre Dame, 5-4

Series: first meeting

Key players: Maine – C Jim Montgomery (4 goals, 15 assists), RW Jean-Yves Roy (8 & 8), LW Brian Downey (6 & 10), LW Scott Pellerin (4 & 5), D Chris Imes (1 & 4), G Garth Snow (7-1, 2.67 goals-against average, .864 save percentage); Notre Dame – LW Lou Zadra (7 & 9), C Curtis Janicke (3 & 10), RW Sterling Black (3 & 3), D Dan Sawyer (1 & 5), D Kevin Patrick (3 & 2), G Brent Lothrop (3-2, 3.45, .871)

Outlook: Both teams have won four in a row. The one common opponent is Kent State with Maine beating the Golden Flashes 5-4 in overtime and 4-2 and Notre Dame splitting two, losing 6-1 and winning 7-5. Notre Dame’s power play unit has scored on eight of its last 16 chances. Maine has allowed at least one power play goal in its last three games, but has killed off 37 of 44 on the season (84.2 percent). Maine has outscored teams 14-5 in the third period and the Irish have been outscored 20-9 in the final period. Lothrop has allowed only one goal over his last two games. Downey has at least a point in every game this season.