Maine vs. UMass-Lowell

Time, site: Friday-Saturday, 7 p.m., Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 19-2-3 (9-1-2 Hockey East); UML 9-13-1 (2-11 HE)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 49-21-2; Maine 5-2 on Jan. 4

Key players: Maine – C Marty Kariya (12 goals, 27 assists), C Robert Liscak (10 & 16), LW Chris Heisten (10 & 13), D Francis Nault (8 & 15), LW Lucas Lawson (12 & 10), G Jimmy Howard (11-1-0, 1.48 goals-against average, .947 save percentage); UML – C Ed McGrane (14 & 12), RW Stephen Slonina (6 & 14), LW Andrew Martin (6 & 11), LW Mark Concannon (7 & 5), D Jerramie Domish (2 & 10), D Baptiste Amar (1 & 11), G Dominic Smart (4-6-1, 3.78, .826)

Outlook: The River Hawks snapped a three-game losing streak with a 3-2 overtime win over Northeastern on Saturday. They will have 11 freshmen in the lineup. UML outshot Maine 41-23 in its 5-2 loss to the Black Bears 20 days ago. Don Cahoon, coach of UMass-Amherst, considers UML the best forechecking team in the league. The Bears are going to have to contain the River Hawks low in the defensive zone and protect the front of the net. The senior line of Concannon-McGrane-Slonina is formidable. The River Hawks will have to play a thorough defensive game by picking up the third man entering their defensive zone. Maine has a 26-game unbeaten streak (22-0-4) at Alfond Arena. As always, special teams will be a key. Both are struggling on the power play. UML had gone 0-for-34 on the power play until Danny O’Brien scored in the win over NU. Maine has just two power-play goals in its last 15 chances but the River Hawks have surrendered 15 PPGs in the last 37 disadvantages. Kariya has 8 & 15 in his last 12 games.