Men’s hockey

MAINE vs. PROVIDENCE

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

Records: Maine 21-6-3 (12-4-2 Hockey East); PC 14-9-6 (6-8-5 HE)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 47-30-4; Maine 3-2 on 11/22/03

Key players: Maine – RW Colin Shields (13 goals, 19 assists), C Michel Leveille (4 & 24), LW Todd Jackson (15 & 8), LW Greg Moore (11 & 7), D Prestin Ryan (3 & 13), G Frank Doyle (15-3, 1.70 goals-against average, .927 save percentage), G Jimmy Howard (6-3-3, 1.31, .949); Providence – C Chris Chaput (9 & 20), LW Peter Zingoni (12 & 16), D Stephen Wood (8 & 13), LW Torry Gajda (10 & 10), RW Jonathan Goodwin (9 & 9), RW Cody Loughlean (6 & 10), G Bobby Goepfert (13-4-2, 2.54, .920)

Outlook: These are two of the hottest teams in college hockey. Maine is 4-0-2 in its last six. Providence has won four straight and is 6-1 in its last seven. Maine has allowed only three goals in its last five games and is the stingiest team in the nation, surrendering 1.60 goals per game. Providence is 13th at 2.48 gpg. Goepfert is 6-1 with a 1.13 GAA and a .962 save percentage over his last seven starts. Providence snapped a 24-game winless streak (0-23-1) at Alfond Arena with a 5-1 win last February followed by a 2-2 tie. That triggered Maine’s 2-6-1 finish. Both teams have a lot of youth up front, experience on defense, and top-notch goaltending. The team best able to create traffic in front and capitalize on its chances will win.