MAINE vs. NORTHEASTERN

Time, site: Friday, 7 p.m., Matthews Arena, Boston

Records: Maine 6-5 (2-2 Hockey East), NU 3-3-1 (0-0)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 37-33-14, 0-0 tie on Feb. 14, 2004

Key players: Maine – C Derek Damon (6 goals, 6 assists), RW Greg Moore (6 & 2), C Jon Jankus (4 & 4), C Ben Murphy (2 & 6), RW Brent Shepheard (4 & 2), D Mike Lundin (0 & 5), G Matt Lundin (1-0, 1.35 goals-against average, .958 save percentage); Northeastern – RW Mike Morris (4 & 6), C Jason Guerriero (4 & 5), LW Yale Lewis (2 & 3), C Ray Ortiz (2 & 3), LW Brian Swiniarski (2 & 3), D Tim Judy (0 & 3), G Keni Gibson (3-2-1, 3.09, .883)

Outlook: Maine is 5-0-2 in the last seven meetings including a 2-0-2 mark at Matthews. The line of Swiniarski-Ortiz-Jared Mudryk has five goals and five assists in its last three games. Linemates Morris and Guerriero are off to fast starts and their combined 8 & 11 represents an improvement of five goals and nine assists over their combined seven-game start last season. NU returns 13 of its top 14 scorers, all of its defensemen and workhorse goalie Gibson off last year’s 11-16-7 team that missed the Hockey East playoffs despite going 3-0-1 in its last four games. Maine will again be without C Michel Leveille and RW Rob Bellamy (shoulder injuries) and G Jimmy Howard (knee) is doubtful. Maine will have to play a strong positional game on the wider ice sheet and do a good job creating a protective bubble in front of freshman goalie Lundin.

MAINE vs. UMASS LOWELL

Time, site: Saturday, 7 p.m.; Tsongas Arena, Lowell, Mass.

Records: Maine 6-5 (2-2 Hockey East); UML 3-2 (0-2)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 52-22-3, Maine 4-0 on Feb. 7, 2004

Key players: Maine – C Derek Damon (6 goals, 6 assists), RW Greg Moore (6 & 2), C Jon Jankus (4 & 4), C Ben Murphy (2 & 6), RW Brent Shepheard (4 & 2), D Mike Lundin (0 & 5), G Matt Lundin (1-0, 1.35 goals-against average, .958 save percentage); UMass Lowell – C Ben Walter (7 & 1), RW Elias Godoy (1 & 6), RW Danny O’Brien (1 & 4), D Cleve Kinley (2 & 2), LW Andrew Martin (1 & 2), D Matt Collar (1 & 0), G Peter Vetri (1-0, 2.00, .938)

Outlook: Maine plays at Northeastern Friday while UML hosts Colgate. The River Hawks have 13 of their top 14 point-getters back off last year’s 10-23-7 team that lost five wins due to forfeits for using an ineligible player. UML has scored 11 of its 15 goals on the power play and is operating at an impressive 25.6 percent efficiency. Walter has four PPGs. Maine has a 7-1-1 edge over the last seven meetings although the River Hawks beat Maine 3-2 last February. UMass Lowell had outscored its opponents 7-0 in the first period and Maine had a 13-4 first-period edge. UML coach Blaise MacDonald said his River Hawks will have to match Maine’s intensity and speed, generate second and third shots around Maine’s cage and win the faceoff game.