MAINE vs. MASSACHUSETTS

Time, site: Thursday, 7 p.m., Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 6-6-2 (3-3-2 Hockey East); UMass 4-10-2 (4-3 HE)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 19-2-2; Maine won 5-2 on Feb. 12

Key players: Maine – RW Matthias Trattnig (7 goals, 4 assists), C Martin Kariya (5 & 6), C Lucas Lawson (5 & 6), RW Niko Dimitrakos (5 & 4), LW Dan Kerluke (3 & 6), D Doug Janik (1 & 6), G Matt Yeats (5-4-1, 2.38 goals-against average, .899 save pct.); UMass – RW Martin Miljko (7 & 7), C Jeff Turner (4 & 10), RW Tim Turner (8 & 5), D Samuli Jalkanen (0 & 10), LW Jimmy Callahan (2 & 7), C Thomas Pock (5 & 3), G Markus Helanen (3-5-1, 3.47, .891)

Outlook: The struggling Bears are 1-3-1 in their last five games. UMass is 1-7-1 in its last nine. UMass just beat Providence, a team that beat Maine this season. UMass’ Helanen was the HE defensive player of the week after making 36 stops in the 3-1 win. UMass has never won in Orono (0-14). Maine has scored two goals or less 10 times. UMass has done so eight times. The Bears are in dire need of a win as its next seven league games are against BC, BU and UNH. UMass plays the neutral-zone trap, so Maine must be patient, make short passes, dump the puck in and crash the net. Maine has already lost as many home games (3) as it did last season. Trattnig has a three-game goal-scoring streak. UMass looks to create transition chances off turnovers. Defenseman Eric Turgeon, who has been out with a shoulder injury, will dress, enabling Maine to play four lines. Kevin Clauson can move back up to forward.