MAINE vs. ST. LAWRENCE

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

Records: Maine 3-2, St. Lawrence 1-2-1

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 9-3, Maine 7-2 on Oct. 25, 2003

Key players: Maine – C Derek Damon (5 goals, 3 assists), C Ben Murphy (2 & 4), RW Greg Moore (3 & 1), C Michel Leveille (2 & 2), D Mike Lundin (0 & 3), G Jimmy Howard (2-2, 2.77 goals-against average, .892 save percentage), G Matt Lundin (1-0, 1.86, .941); St. Lawrence – D Mike Madill (1 & 2), C Kyle Rank (2 & 0), LW T.J. Trevelyan (1 & 1), RW Josh Anderson (0 & 2), C Stace Page (1 & 0), D Drew Bagnall (0 & 1), G Mike McKenna (1-2-1, 2.47, .929)

Outlook: Maine has won the last seven meetings. The Saints have played an ambitious schedule against the likes of St. Cloud State (1-1), New Hampshire (2-4), Michigan State (3-1) and Michigan (2-5). The Saints return seven of their top nine scorers from last year’s 14-21-6 team. Most of their defensemen are back along with vastly improved senior goalie McKenna, the USCHO National Defensive Player of the Week last week. Trevelyan had 23 goals last season to lead the ECAC and his 13 power play goals were second-best in the country. Damon has five goals in his last four games. This should be a high-paced series featuring two aggressive forechecking teams. The team that is able to force the most turnovers and generate the most traffic in front of the opposing net should come out on top. Special teams also will be pivotal. Maine has at least one power play goal in every game.