UMaine hockey team wants to end bad habit> Bears determined to stop giving rivals early lead

The University of Maine hockey team has picked up a bad habit.

Over their past six games, the Bears have spotted their opponent the game’s first goal.

Fortunately for the Bears, they are 3-1-2 in those games.

They will hope to reverse that trend when they take on the upstart Providence College Friars at Schneider Arena in Providence, R.I., on Friday and Saturday.

“Providence plays a very patient game. They sit back and wait for you to make mistakes and try to capitalize on them,” said Maine junior defenseman Jeff Tory. “If we can get out to a lead on them, it’ll put pressure on them and will force them to come out at us. That plays into our hands.”

Maine junior center Tim Lovell said falling behind a defense-oriented team like Providence could be dangerous.

“It could be tough to come back on them,” said Lovell.

Tory said the Bears intend to play a more patient game, which has been their tendency on the road. He said that could help prevent them from falling behind.

Maine gave up goals within the first five minutes of each game against New Hampshire at the Alfond Arena last weekend. The teams battled to a pair of ties, 4-4 and 3-3.

“Against New Hampshire, we tried to make plays and got caught out of position,” said Tory, whose Bears led for only 3 minutes, 11 seconds in the two games against New Hampshire. “We were thinking about our offensive game too much. It’s important that we focus on our defensive game this weekend.”

Maine went an impressive 9-1-4 in opposing rinks last season.

“We tend to play a simpler game on the road,” explained Tory. “We open it up too much at home.”

“It’s good to go on the road because it gives us a chance to bond together as a team,” said senior goalie Blair Allison. “We look forward to the challenge.”

Providence Coach Paul Pooley, whose Friars are off to a 3-0-1 start in league play, said his team won’t utilize just a passive forecheck against Maine.

“We’re a lot quicker than we were last year, and we want to get in and forecheck when we can,” said Pooley.

However, he also said, “Maine plays a very fast-paced game. Their forwards are very fast and very talented and they like to capitalize on turnovers. We can’t turn the puck over against them, and we’ve got to take away their speed. I just hope we can keep up with them.”

College Hockey MAINE vs. PROVIDENCE

Time, site: Friday and Saturday, 7 p.m., Schneider Arena, Providence, R.I.

Records: Maine 4-1-2 (0-0-2 Hockey East), PC 4-1-1 (3-0-1 HE)

Series: Maine leads 30-22-1

Key players: Maine – RW Shawn Wansborough (6 goals, 4 assists), LW Scott Parmentier (4 & 3), C Tim Lovell (5 & 2), D Jeff Tory (0 & 7), C Dan Shermerhorn (3 & 3), G Blair Allison (3-1-2, 3.87 goals-against average, .855 save percentage); Providence – D Justin Gould (3 & 4), RW Russ Guzior (3 & 3), C David Green (2 & 4), C Stefan Brannare (1 & 5), LW Travis Dillabough (2 & 2), G Dan Dennis (3-1-1, 2.75 GAA, .899)

Outlook: The Friars have been extremely stingy, allowing only three goals per game overall and 2.5 in league play en route to their best Hockey East start ever. They returned all of their defensemen and goalie Dennis, and the forwards have also committed to team defense. In addition, the Friars may regain the services of NHL first-round draft pick Joe Hulbig, who has been sidelined by a rib cage injury. Maine’s Wansborough and Lovell have three-game goal-scoring streaks, and Wansborough has registered at least a point in every game. Maine will again be without left winger Reg Cardinal, who is sidelined by a bruised shoulder, Transfer Matt Oliver will take his place and LW Brad Mahoney will replace Nils Satterstrom in the lineup. Providence beat Maine 7-3 in the Hockey East semifinals last year.