MAINE vs. BOSTON UNIVERSITY

MAINE vs. BOSTON UNIVERSITY

Time, site: Friday, 7 p.m., Walter Brown Arena, Boston

Records: Maine 6-4-4 (3-1-2 Hockey East); Boston University 4-8-1 (3-4-1)

Series, last meeting: BU leads 33-30-5; 3-3 tie on 1/16/00

Key players: Maine – C Chris Heisten (2 goals, 10 assists), C Lucas Lawson (5 & 5), RW Matthias Trattnig (5 & 4), C Marty Kariya (4 & 5), RW Niko Dimitrakos (5 & 3), D Doug Janik (1 & 6), G Matt Yeats (5-2-1, 2.17 goals-against average, .907 save percentage); BU – C Carl Corazzini (9 & 7), C Dan Cavanaugh (4 & 7), C Brian Collins (4 & 6), LW Jack Baker (3 & 6), D Freddy Meyer (2 & 6), D Pat Aufiero (1 & 3), G Jason Tapp (2-5-1, 3.61, .877)

Outlook: The Terriers snapped a rare six-game losing streak with a 5-2, 4-2 sweep of UMass last weekend, while Maine posted a win and a tie against Northeastern. BU is 7-2-4 over the last 13 games vs. Maine at Walter Brown Arena. The Terriers would like nothing better than to begin a 21-day break with a win over Maine. The teams are similar in that both employ an up-tempo, aggressive style of forecheck. They are both quick and dangerous on transition. Corazzini has seven goals in his last four games against Maine and was named Hockey East Player of the Week for his three goals and three assists in the sweep of UMass. One intriguing matchup will be BU’s league-best power play (31 percent efficiency) against Maine’s penalty-killing unit, tops in Hockey East at 90.6 percent overall. Maine will be without defensemen Peter Metcalf (knee) and Eric Turgeon (shoulder) and winger Brendan Donovan (lacerated kidney). BU will be minus RW Nick Gillis (wrist), and LW Mike Pandolfo is doubtful (knee). The team that handles the forechecking pressure and avoids turnovers should come out on top.