HOCKEY EAST QUARTERFINALS

No. 3 Maine vs. No. 6 Boston College

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

Records: Maine 20-9-7, Boston College 18-16-2

Series, last meeting: BC leads 40-30-4; BC 4-3 on Feb. 8

Key players: Maine – RW Niko Dimitrakos (18 goals, 26 assists), C Marty Kariya (14 & 27), D Peter Metcalf (7 & 34), RW Colin Shields (25 & 15), C Tommy Reimann (11 & 19), D Francis Nault (6 & 15), G Mike Morrison (17-3-4, 2.13 GAA, .925 save percentage), Matt Yeats (3-6-3, 3.19, .879); Boston College – LW Tony Voce (24 & 21), C Ben Eaves (12 & 24), LW Jeff Giuliano (11 & 24), RW Dave Spina (13 & 13), C-D Ales Dolinar (8 & 17), D Andrew Alberts (2 & 10), G Tim Kelleher (10-7-2, 2.78, .886), G Matti Kaltiainen (8-9, 2.65, .902)

Outlook: Maine has won all 19 of its Hockey East playoff games at Alfond Arena. The Eagles have suffered two injuries on defense, so senior Dolinar will move from center to defense. Maine can’t take the talented defending national champs lightly because they’re 3-1-1 in their last five Alfond games and possess one of the nation’s premier lines in Voce-Eaves-A.J. Walker. The Bears have to think defense first and they’ll need to stay out of the penalty box. BC’s power play is dangerous. Look for Maine to forecheck aggressively and crash the net. Maine is 4-0-2 in its last six games and has outscored its opponents 31-14. Maine has nine power-play goals in its last 28 chances. Kelleher and Kaltiainen will split the first two games, respectively. Morrison is Maine’s likely starter Thursday.

AMERICA EAST QUARTERFINALS

No. 4 Maine vs. No. 5 Hartford

Time, site: Thursday, 8:15 p.m.; Chase Family Arena, W. Hartford, Conn.

Records: Maine 16-11, Hartford 13-14

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 31-6; Hartford won 72-58 on March 2

Key players: Maine – 6-1 F Heather Ernest (12.9 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 1.5 spg), 5-9 G Melissa Heon (10.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.7 spg), 5-7 G Missy Traversi (10.2 ppg, 3.2 apg, 1.4 spg), 6-0 F Monica Peterson (9.1 ppg, 8.1 rpg), 5-7 G Kim Corbitt (7.0 ppg, 2.4 apg), 6-1 G/F Julie Veilleux (6.9 ppg, 5.2 rpg); Hartford – 5-10 F Janeka Lopp (12.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg), 6-3 C Kenitra Johnson (12.6 ppg, 7.9 rpg), 5-8 G Dorcas Miller (9.3 ppg), 5-7 G Angie Pezzetta (6.1 ppg, 3.3 apg, 1.7 spg), 5-7 G Ernestine Austin (2.8 ppg, 2.4 apg, 1.9 spg)

Outlook: The Bears hope to take the first step toward their first conference championship since 1998 with a win over the Hawks. It marks the second straight year the teams will meet in the postseason after Hartford earned a 70-55 quarterfinal victory last season at Vermont. The Hawks have won three of the last four meetings between the two teams. UMaine, which has won five of its last seven overall, is 16-4 when allowing 69 points or less. Rebounding is a huge key. In 15 of the Bears’ 16 wins they have won the battle on the boards. Hartford has the edge in depth, quickness, frontcourt height, and overall experience. UMaine must take advantage of its superior defensive play to clog the middle, limit 3-pointers, and keep the Hawks from scoring in transition.