So which University of Maine hockey team will be showcased the rest of the season? The Friday or Saturday night team?

Over the last two weekend home series, Maine has lost both of its Friday night games and won both of its Saturday contests. Maine squandered a 4-1 lead in a 5-4 loss to Merrimack two Fridays ago and got humbled by BC 6-1 this past Friday night.

On the ensuing Saturdays, Maine beat Merrimack 6-4 and thumped BC 12-5.

Coach Shawn Walsh and his players said the Bears will be more physical and emotional the rest of the way.

“On those Friday nights, we weren’t as ready to play. We weren’t emotional. We aren’t talented enough to not play with extra incentive and succeed,” said Walsh. “We’ve been lackadaisical. It’s partially my fault and partially the team’s fault. We’ve got to play with a snarly kind of attitude.”

Walsh said because his team doesn’t have a lot of naturally aggressive and snarly players “so it’s my job to bring it out of them. I’m going to have to make some of them play differently than they want to.”

Sophomore right winger Cory Larose said, “Not all of us are natural hitters but everybody has to bear down and hit. We all have to buy into the team concept if we want to do well. We don’t have 10 top-round draft picks. We have to play well every night and work real hard [in order to win].”

Sophomore defenseman Shawn Mansoff added, “Sometimes you can get by without playing the body against weak teams. But you’re going to get beat by any good team if you don’t hit them. We’ve got to keep playing like we did Saturday.”

Playing the body consistently can be tiring but Mansoff said that shouldn’t be a problem.

“A lot of guys played juniors before and we had 60-game schedules plus 20 games in the playoffs. We played just as physically there, if not even more so. We play only two games a week here so if you can’t play 15-20 minutes of hard, physical hockey each night, you shouldn’t be playing,” said Mansoff.

Walsh said another positive aspect of Saturday night’s win was “we finally found some lines that are comfortable and confident with each other.”

He put together a veteran line with Shawn Wansborough between Scott Parmentier and Steve Kariya while the other three lines had at least one freshman and one sophomore on it. Freshman Anders Lundback centered for sophomore Larose and junior Bobby Stewart; freshman A.J. Begg was flanked by junior Jason Vitorino and sophomore Jim Leger; and freshman Matthias Trattnig centered for freshman Dan Kerluke and sophomore Ben Guite.

Every line scored at least two goals except for Begg’s checking line.

Freshman defenseman Nate Ponitz of Oakland has played in the last three games and said he has been sticking to basics.

“I’m trying to keep it simple. I don’t want to make it complicated and get too involved in the offense. I just want to make the smart play and hope for the best,” said the 6-foot-4, 216-pound former Messalonskee High School star who prepped at Phillips Exeter Academy (N.H.) last year.

Playing on a tandem with senior tri-captain Brian White has been beneficial, Ponitz said.

“Playing alongside him takes a lot of pressure off me. He’s so smart and he’s such a solid defensive player. I know there’s always somebody back there helping me out. I’m not alone,” said Ponitz.

Ponitz added that the intensity and structure of Walsh’s practices have made the transition easier.

“The practices are even more than game-like, if that makes any sense. It’s tighter and more intense in practice so when you get into a game, you have more time to make decisions and you’re just really well-prepared,” said Ponitz.

He has been satisfied with his progress although he added “there’s still a lot more improvement to go.”

Walsh said, “He has been solid. He hasn’t hurt us too much. He gives us a little more of a physical presence.”