MEN’S HOCKEY

Maine vs. Northeastern

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

Records: Maine 7-2 (2-2 in Hockey East); NU 0-5-2 (0-3-1 HE)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 35-33-13, Maine 3-1 on 1/11/03

Key players: Maine – LW Todd Jackson (7 goals, 4 assists), RW Greg Moore (5 & 5), RW Colin Shields (6 & 3), C Michel Leveille (0 & 9), D Prestin Ryan (1 & 5), D Jeff Mushaluk (0 & 1), G Jimmy Howard (3-1, 2.00, .922 save percentage); Northeastern – C Brian Swiniarski (5 & 1), LW Eric Ortlip (3 & 1), LW Yale Lewis (1 & 2), RW Mike Morris (1 & 2), C Jason Guerriero (2 & 0), D Donny Grover (0 & 3), G Keni Gibson (0-3-2, 3.51, .860)

Outlook: Maine is 7-0-2 in its last nine Alfond meetings against the Huskies. NU will have 10 freshmen and sophomores in its lineup including three freshmen and a walk-on sophomore on defense. NU is 1-12-3 in its last 16 games dating back to last season. The Huskies shouldn’t be taken lightly. They have outshot their opponents 216-186 and they’re coming off a 2-2 tie with a good Providence team. NU hasn’t scored more than three goals in a game this season. Maine will try to bounce back from back-to-back road losses at BC and UNH. Defenseman Troy Barnes (concussion) won’t play. Maine will try to create a fast tempo and force NU’s young defensemen to turn the puck over.