Hockey East semifinals
MAINE vs. UMASS-LOWELL
Time, site: Friday, 8 p.m.; FleetCenter, Boston
Records: Maine, 25-8-4; UMass-Lowell, 25-7-4
Series: Maine leads 30-19-1
Key players: Maine – D Jeff Tory (4 goals, 37 assists), C Dan Shermerhorn (18 & 23), RW Shawn Wansborough (25 & 15), D Brett Clark (7 & 30), C Brad Purdie (16 & 20), LW Scott Parmentier (11 & 12), G Blair Allison (18-7-4 record, 3.15 goals-against average, .885 save percentage); UMass-Lowell – RW Brendan Concannon (20 & 34), C Christian Sbrocca (17 & 36), C Jeff Daw (21 & 28), RW Jon Mahoney (21 & 18), LW Neil Donovan (20 & 18), D Ed Campbell (6 & 30), G Martin Fillion (23-6-3, 3.73, .876)
Outlook: The teams went 1-1-1 against each other this season with each winning at the other’s rink. Maine is 6-0 against the River Hawks in Hockey East Tournament play including last year’s 6-0 win in the consolation game. The River Hawks will try to create a run-and-gun tempo with their aggressive forecheck. Maine can play an up-tempo game but the Bears must not do so at the expense of their team defense because the senior-laden River Hawks have more finishers. Allison stopped 55 of 61 shots in the quarterfinal sweep of New Hampshire and appears to be back in All-American form. The line of Daw between Concannon and Donovan has combined for six goals and six assists in the three games against Maine.Maine defenseman Jeff Libby had four of his nine assists against UML.
PROVIDENCE vs. BOSTON UNIVERSITY
Time, site: Friday, 5 p.m., FleetCenter, Boston
Records: Boston University 28-5-3; Providence 19-14-3
Series: BU leads 66-31-7
Key players: BU – C Chris Drury (32 & 30), LW Jay Pandolfo (33 & 27), RW Bob Lachance (15 & 35), C Shawn Bates (27 & 21), D Jon Coleman (7 & 30), G Michel Larocque (10-2-1, 3.43, .884); Providence – RW Russ Guzior (19 & 17), C David Green (14 & 21), D-W Joe Hulbig (11 & 19), C Stefan Brannare (13 & 15), RW Dennis Burke (13 & 13), G Dan Dennis (17-12-3, 3.29, .900)
Outlook: The Friars are on the bubble when it comes to the NCAA Tournament. They will have to beat BU and will probably have to win the tournament to ensure inclusion. The Friars will try to neutralize BU’s arsenal of offensive weapons with the neutral zone trap.
But they can’t afford to fall behind the Terriers. All-HE goalie Dennis will have to turn in an exceptional performance.
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