HOCKEY EAST QUARTERFINALS

MAINE vs. NORTHEASTERN

Time, site: Thursday, Friday, Saturday (if necessary), 7 p.m.; Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: No. 2 Maine 17-10-7 (12-7-5 Hockey East); No. 7 Northeastern 13-17-4 (7-13-4 HE)

Series, last meeting: NU leads 32-29-12, 3-3 tie on Dec. 3 in Portland

Key players: Maine – C Martin Kariya (10 goals, 19 assists), LW Michael Schutte (13 & 8), RW Matthias Trattnig (9 & 11), C Chris Heisten (4 & 16), D Peter Metcalf (5 & 8), D Doug Janik (2 & 11), G Matt Yeats (15-7-4, 2.31 goals-against average, .895 save percentage); Northeastern – C Graig Mischler (10 & 31), LW Mike Ryan (17 & 12), RW Willie Levesque (13 & 16), D Jim Fahey (4 & 21), C Chris Lynch (12 & 6), G Mike Gilhooly (8-12-4, 3.12, .893), G Jason Braun (5-5, 3.57, .895)

Outlook: Levesque has scored a goal in the last four games against Maine. The Ryan-Mischler-Levesque line has 21 goals and 36 assists over the last 13 games, but Ryan will miss Thursday’s game after receiving a butt-ending major and game disqualification against UMass-Lowell on Saturday. The Huskies are 4-4-4 in their last 12 games at the Alfond, but Maine is 19-0 in Hockey East playoff games there. NU is a junior-senior laden team that won’t be intimidated by the crowd. The Huskies will finish their checks and impede the Bears any way they can. They like to get the puck deep and use their strength to create chances off the sustained forecheck. Their defensemen have good offensive instincts. Maine will try to create a fast tempo and burn the Huskies in transition. The Bears will also try to capitalize on their quickness. Maine is 7-1-1 in its last nine games; NU is 3-6. Maine allows a goal per game less than NU. Both have mediocre power plays. Maine is better on the penalty kill. Schutte has nine goals and five assists in his last seven games. Mischler has a 10-game points streak (6 & 15). NU could be bolstered by the return of injured defenseman Arik Engbrecht, although his status is still up in the air. NU coach Bruce Crowder, an assistant at Maine for four years, is 10-18-6 vs. Maine coach Shawn Walsh.