MAINE vs. MERRIMACK

Time, site: Tuesday, 7 p.m., Lawler Arena, No. Andover, Mass.

Records: Maine 13-4-1 overall (6-2-1 Hockey East); Merrimack 7-10-3 (2-6-3 HE)

Series, last meeting: Maine 42-8-4; Maine 3-1 on Dec. 5, 2003

Key players: Maine – RW Colin Shields (9 goals, 8 assists), C Michel Leveille (0 & 16), C Derek Damon (6 & 8), LW Todd Jackson (9 & 4), D Prestin Ryan (3 & 8), D Troy Barnes (2 & 8), G Frank Doyle (8-3, 1.86 goals-against average, .922 save percentage); Merrimack – LW Brent Gough (8 & 9), D Bryan Schmidt (5 & 11), C Marco Rosa (9 & 4), LW Tim Reidy (6 & 7), C Steve Crusco (7 & 4), S D Eric Pedersen (0 & 7), G Casey Guenther (5-8-3, 2.83, .901)

Outlook: The Warriors haven’t allowed more than three goals in any of their last nine games. Maine has given up more than three just once in its last eight. Maine is 15-1-3 in its last 19 meetings with Merrimack. The Bears will have to stay out of the penalty box because the Warriors have a productive power play (20.6 percent) with Schmidt and Rosa being the catalysts. The Warriors have won three straight including the stunning 7-2 win at UNH. They are playing with a lot of confidence. The Bears have to emulate their thorough, two-way performance in Sunday’s 6-1 win over Vermont. They will have to pay special attention to the line of Gough-Rosa-Jeremy Wilson.