HOCKEY EAST QUARTERFINALS

No. 3 MAINE vs. No. 6 MASSACHUSETTS

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

Records: Maine 24-7-5 (14-6-4 Hockey East); UMass 17-16-1 (10-14 HE)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 28-3-2; Maine 4-0 on 2/22/03

Key players: Maine – C Martin Kariya (13 goals, 35 assists), LW Lucas Lawson (21 & 14), D Francis Nault (10 & 25), C Robert Liscak (12 & 20), D Cliff Loya (1 & 6), G Jimmy Howard (14-5, 2.21 goals-against average, .924 save percentage), G Frank Doyle (10-2-5, 2.19, .914); UMass – LW Greg Mauldin (19 & 19), RW Stephen Werner (13 & 21), D Thomas Pock (16 & 16), RW Tim Turner (14 & 18), C Matt Anderson (9 & 21), D Marvin Degon (2 & 13), G Gabe Winer (15-11-1, 3.07, .870)

Outlook: UMass is 0-9 in Hockey East quarterfinal games. Maine is 21-0 in HE playoff games at Alfond Arena. The Bears are 29-1 at home in postseason play. Maine is 18-0 vs. UMass at the Alfond Arena. But the Bears are just 1-2-1 in their last four home games after going 23-0-5 in their previous 28. Maine has lost the opener of its last four series. The line of Mauldin-Anderson-Werner combined for four goals and five assists in Saturday’s 5-2 win over Merrimack and is one of the best young lines in Hockey East. Degon was the Hockey East Rookie of the Month. The Minutemen will be thorough defensively and will try to make sure they have numbers behind the puck to prevent Maine’s transition offense. Maine is going to have to be tenacious, fight through checks, and drive the net. Maine will also have to reduce its turnovers. UMass will be physical and Maine must match that physicality.