NCAA MIDWEST REGIONAL

MAINE vs. MICHIGAN

Time, site: Saturday, 3:30 p.m., Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Mich.

Records: Maine 24-9-5, Michigan

Series, last meeting: 3-3, Maine 5-2 on March 26, 2000

Key players: Maine – C Marty Kariya (14 goals, 35 assists), LW Lucas Lawson (21 & 15), D Francis Nault (10 & 26), C Robert Liscak (12 & 22), D Cliff Loya (1 & 6), G Frank Doyle (10-3-5, 2.14 goals-against average, .915 save percentage), G Jimmy Howard (14-6, 2.45, .916); Michigan – LW Jeff Tambellini (26 & 17), C John Shouneyia (7 & 28), C Dwight Helminen (17 & 15), RW Jeb Ortmeyer (16 & 16), C David Moss (14 & 16), D Danny Richmond (3 & 19), G Al Montoya (28-9-3, 2.34, .910)

Outlook: Maine is 3-0 against Michigan in NCAA tournament play. Michigan is 16-2 at home while Maine is 8-2-2 at opposing rinks. Maine will have to keep an eye on the Tambellini-Shouneyia-Ortmeyer line but the Wolverines have received plenty of production from their other three lines. The Wolverines will forecheck aggressively and their defensemen like to pinch. Maine must get numbers on the defensive side of the puck and gap properly to prevent the quick Michigan forwards from gaining a full head of steam in the neutral zone. The Bear forwards are going to have to impede the Michigan forwards to protect their defense corps. The crowd will give the youthful Wolverines some extra jump but that could play into Maine’s hands if they’re overaggressive. The Bears could generate odd-man rushes if they make precise break-out passes. Maine will have to weather some sustained forechecks. They must also maintain their composure and not take penalties.

COLORADO COLLEGE vs. WAYNE STATE

Time, site: Saturday, noon, Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Mich.

Records: No. 1 Colorado College 29-6-5, No. 4 Wayne State 21-16-2

Series, last meeting: first meeting

Key players: Colorado College – LW Peter Sejna (35 goals, 44 assists), RW Noah Clarke (20 & 46), D Tom Preissing (22 & 26), LW Brett Sterling (24 & 10), G Curtis McElhinney (24-5-5, 2.34 GAA, .907) Wayne State – LW Dustin Kingston (17 goals, 23 assists), C Jason Durbin (12 & 24), RW Derek MacKay (16 & 12), D Tyler Kindle (4 & 23), G David Guerrera (18-14-2, 3.03 GAA, .901)

Outlook: The Tigers have two Hobey Baker finalists in national scoring leader Sejna and Preissing. CHA tourney champ Wayne State is making its first ever NCAA Tournament appearance in the fourth year of the program. The Warriors will probably trap and hope to capitalize on turnovers if the Tigers get impatient and try to force passes. The Warriors can’t afford to take many penalties because CC’s power play is the nation’s best at 30.2 percent. Guerrera will have to turn in a terrific performance to keep his team in the game. Sejna and Clarke are linemates. They are centered by Marty Sertich.