Men’s Hockey

Maine vs. UMass

Time, site: Friday-Saturday, 7 p.m., Mullins Center, Amherst, Mass.

Records: Maine 22-5-5 (12-4-4 Hockey East); UMass 15-15-1 (8-13 HE)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 27-2-2, Maine 8-3 on Dec. 29, 2002

Key players: Maine – C Marty Kariya (13 goals, 31 assists), D Francis Nault (9 & 23), LW Lucas Lawson (18 & 13), C Robert Liscak (12 & 19), D Cliff Loya (1 & 6), G Jimmy Howard (13-4, 2.11 goals-against average, .927 save percentage), G Frank Doyle (9-1-5, 2.27, .914); UMass – LW Greg Mauldin (17 & 17), D Thomas Pock (15 & 16), RW Tim Turner (14 & 15), RW Stephen Werner (10 & 18), C Matt Anderson (8 & 19), D Nick Kuiper (3 & 2), G Gabe Winer (13-10-1, 3.12, .862)

Outlook: Maine has won the last 14 meetings and is 14-0-1 over the last 15 including two this season. The Minutemen snapped a five-game losing streak with an 8-6 non-league win over UConn on Feb. 14. Both teams have had trouble scoring of late. UMass scored seven goals during its five-game skid while Maine has scored 14 goals in its last six. The Mauldin-Anderson-Werner line has been UMass’ most productive. Maine will be at full strength for the first time in six games. The Minutemen did an exceptional job protecting the front of their net in a 1-0 loss to Maine on Nov. 9 but struggled in an 8-3 setback in the championship game at the Everblades College Classic in Estero, Fla. on Dec. 29. There are 24 freshmen and sophomores on UMass’ 29-man roster and they have accounted for 68.5 percent of UMass’ points.