PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The last time University of Maine senior center Martin Robitaille scored a goal, it was Dec. 19 in the Great Western Freeze-Out Tournament in Inglewood, Calif., against Michigan State.

Robitaille has played in only six of the 13 games since then because of a knee injury, but he would like nothing better than to snap out of his slump against the Spartans in their Saturday night (8:35) NCAA Tournament quarterfinal game at the Providence Civic Center.

Robitaille is Maine’s leading career scorer against the Spartans with one goal and eight assists in five games.

“I look for Martin to be a big factor in the game,” said Maine Coach Shawn Walsh. “He has played well for us. We haven’t needed him to score. But we’ll take anything we can get at this point.”

Walsh and his coaches have put together a pump-up tape for Robitaille, showing him scoring goals during his Maine career.

“The tape has helped my confidence. I know I can score,” said Robitaille, who averaged 21 goals during his first three seasons, but has dropped to five goals (and 22 assists) in 30 games this season.

Robitaille said the fact he is Maine’s leading scorer against MSU also gives his confidence a little boost.

The St. Romauld, Quebec, native, who will center for left wing Jean-Yves Roy and right wing Randy Olson, said he has been satisfied with his overall play.

“I think I’ve played well this season,” said Robitaille. “I’ve helped the team in other ways. I’ve been a defensive center and I’ve done my job (at the point) on the power play. What’s good about this team is that my not scoring hasn’t affected the team.

“In the playoffs, you get close games so you need all the goals you can get,” added Robitaille. “So if I get a chance to score, hopefully I’ll put it in.”

Robitaille has received the nickname Mr. March for his scoring prowess in the playoffs. He had both game-winning goals in the 1989 NCAA Tournament quarterfinal series victory over Providence; had 10 goals and four assists in the (Hockey East and NCAA) playoffs including four game-winners, and had two playoff game-winners a year ago.

Although he hasn’t been lighting the goal light

Maine senior left wing and tri-captain Scott Pellerin knows how important fellow tri-captain Robitaille has been.

“He’s our unsung hero,” said Pellerin. “He’s very unselfish and he’s a total team player. He’ll be a factor against Michigan State whether he gets a point or not.”

Robitaille and the Bears know they will have their hands full with the Spartans. Maine has been off since it beat New Hampshire 4-1 for the Hockey East championship on March 14.

The Bears will also have to deal with the pressure attached to a No. 1 seed and the fact that they are the only remaining Hockey East team after Michigan State and Wisconsin eliminated Boston University and New Hampshire, respectively, by 4-2 scores on Thursday.

“We’ve played the whole season under pressure,” said Barkley.

“There will be some added pressure but we can’t think about that,” said Pellerin. “We’ve just got to play the best we can.”

The Bears also said they aren’t concerned about the layoff.

“It’s actually been good for us because it’s given some of our injuries time to heal,” said junior left winger Jean-Yves Roy.

“As a player, you like to play a lot of games in a row,” said junior center Jim Montgomery. “But our practices are up-tempo, they’re like game conditions. Now we just want to play.”

Most Maine players, such as senior center and tri-captain Mike Barkley, aren’t concerned with the layoff, they are concerned with the Spartans.

“They’re a smart team. They make good defensive decisions,” said Barkley. “They’re going to look to capitalize on our mistakes. We have to limit our mistakes. The team that makes the fewest mistakes will win.”

“We’ve got to get the puck deep and forecheck them,” said Olson. “We can’t let them out of their zone and we’ve got to make them come 200 feet with the puck.”

“We’ve got to do what we do best: play an up-tempo game and move the puck quickly,” said Montgomery.

Michigan State plays a smothering defensive style and limits teams to few quality shots and second shots. They also have snipers like CCHA Player of the Year Dwayne Norris who can create scoring chances and finish them off.

“Special teams will be a key,” said Maine Coach Shawn Walsh. “They’ve got a great power play. And we’ve got to be very patient offensively. Every team has tried to slow us down in the playoffs and we’ve faced excellent goaltending.”

Michigan State Coach Ron Mason said all the pressure is on Maine and he and his players are ready for the challenge.

“It’s going to be tough on Shawn,” said Mason of his son-in-law. “They’re the top seed and we’re a darkhorse. Maine has more expectations. There’s a lot less pressure on us.

“Their quickness in our zone is our biggest concern,” added Mason. “They move the puck pretty well and they’ve got some snipers. We’ve got to handle things in our end.”