Men’s hockey

NCAA Frozen Four semifinal

Maine vs. Boston College

Time, site: Thursday, 6 p.m.; FleetCenter, Boston, Mass.

Records: Maine 32-7-3, Boston College 29-8-4

Series, last meeting: BC leads 43-34-5; Maine 4-3 (OT) on 3/6/04

Key players: Maine – RW Colin Shields (18 goals, 26 assists), C Michel Leveille (6 & 34), LW Todd Jackson (21 & 12), C Derek Damon (13 & 18), LW Greg Moore (15 & 8), D Prestin Ryan (4 & 17), G Jimmy Howard (13-3-3, 1.20 goals-against average, .954 save percentage); Boston College – RW Tony Voce (29 & 18), LW Patrick Eaves (18 & 23), C Ryan Shannon (14 & 27), C Ben Eaves (9 & 25), D J.D. Forrest (4 & 13), D Andrew Alberts (4 & 12), G Matti Kaltiainen (27-6-4, 1.75, .908)

Outlook: This is a matchup of the nation’s two best defensive teams. Maine has allowed 1.60 goals per game while BC has given up 1.92. BC has an edge in skill and speed so it will be imperative for the Bears to outwork the Eagles. That won’t be an easy task. The Bears will have to play the body but can’t afford to take themselves out of position to do so. The line featuring the Eaves brothers and Voce is one of the nation’s best and the Bears will have to contain them. They have combined for 10 goals and 11 assists in the last four games. Special teams will be critical and is one area in which BC has a distinct advantage. BC has five power play goals in its last 18 chances while Maine has surrendered eight power play goals in its last 29 disadvantages. Maine’s power play is 2-for-31 but BC has given up at least one power play goal in six of its last eight games. But BC leads the country in penalty killing percentage at 89.4 percent.