It had become tradition.

The University of Maine men’s hockey team made a habit of finishing the regular season with a flourish and using that momentum to make a strong postseason run.

But this year’s team has uncharacteristically struggled down the stretch.

And that leaves the Alfond Arena faithful wondering if this team can make another playoff run.

How many teams with first-year goalies have won NCAA championships? Very few.

Then there is an inexperienced defense corps that has had problems turning the puck over.

And the forwards have occasionally struggled to score goals, especially of late.

But opposing coaches feel the Bears are one of several teams that could claim the NCAA title this season. And so do the Maine coaches and players.

“Look at their [7] seniors. Look at the games they’ve played in and won and the experience they have,” said Providence coach Paul Pooley. “There’s no question [they’re a contender]. You win with defense and Maine has always been able to shut you down. They have leaders you can feed off.”

“There are probably 10-12 teams who could win the thing and they’re right in the mix,” Boston College coach Jerry York said. “I like their goaltending [Frank Doyle, Jimmy Howard]. And they’ve got some older kids. Every freshman and sophomore looks great in September and October. But, late in the year, it’s your juniors and seniors who become the key guys and Maine has a group of guys who are used to it [postseason play].”

UMass-Lowell coach Blaise MacDonald said the Bears “have what it takes for a couple of reasons.”

“I really like the leadership of their seniors, particularly Marty Kariya,” said MacDonald. “I like how they communicate on the ice. And their goalies can, flat-out, bring home the brass ring.”

Second-year coach Tim Whitehead feels his Bears are one of “many teams” who can challenge for the title.

“Our early season success was deceiving,” said Whitehead. “We, as coaches, knew we weren’t that talented. We’re talented, but not that talented.”

He said the recent struggles have served as a wakeup call and a long playoff run will require “strong goaltending, staying healthy, and excellent team defense.”

“We feel we have as good a shot as anybody,” said Whitehead.

“They’ve been at or near the top of the league all year and this is the best league in the country,” said BU coach Jack Parker. “Anyone who comes out of this league can win it. Their goaltenders may be young, but they’ve been great most of the year.”

Maine senior right wing Gray Shaneberger said the Bears must make a “total commitment” to defense.

“We were strong in front of our net early in the year. We were clearing loose pucks out. But we’ve been inconsistent lately. We can’t afford to take any shifts off,” said Shaneberger.

Senior defenseman Cliff Loya said the “work ethic has to come up a little bit. We’ve got to play hard for 60 minutes like we did at the beginning of the year.”

Loya said the goaltending “has been the most consistent part of our team.”

Shaneberger and Loya said the Bears have to get back to basics and make simple plays, particularly in the defensive zone.

The move of Reimann back to defense could make a significant difference. He is an intelligent player who has good anticipation. He also supplies them with some needed offensive from the blue line.

Loya and Francis Nault were the only two defensemen with more than a year of experience entering the season and freshman Travis Wight has emerged as a steady stay-at-home defenseman. Nault is one of the nation’s top-scoring defensemen and is great with the puck, but he sometimes struggles in the defensive zone.

But the other defensemen have all been benched at one time or another this season for ineffective play.

Prestin Ryan, Steve Mullin, Matt Deschamps, and Troy Barnes each have their strengths and Whitehead is hoping a couple can emerge as steady and effective in the defensive zone.

The forwards are going to have to help out on the defensive side of the puck and play with more grit and physicality.

There are six forwards with 10 or more goals and they have three legitimate scoring lines with an interchangeable fourth line that could be physical or an offensive threat depending on who is in the lineup.

Getting Colin Shields, a 29-goal scorer last year, out of his scoring drought could be a key factor in the postseason.

The farther you go in the playoffs, the goals become tougher and tougher to come by, and he’s their best pure sniper.

The Bears start their postseason tonight with a best-of-three Hockey East Tournament quarterfinal series in Orono against Massachusetts.