MAINE vs. DARTMOUTH

Time, site: Saturday, 7 p.m.; Thompson Arena, Hanover, N.H.

Records: Maine 9-6, Dartmouth 4-4

Series, last meeting: Dartmouth leads 6-5; Maine 3-2 on 12/13/03

Key players: Maine – C Derek Damon (9 goals, 7 assists), RW Brent Shepheard (6 & 5), RW John Ronan (5 & 6), C Jon Jankus (4 & 7), RW Greg Moore (7 & 3), D Mike Lundin (0 & 8), G Jimmy Howard (8-6, 2.52 goals-against average, .902 save percentage); Dartmouth – LW Tanner Glass (3 & 4), C Mike Ouellette (1 & 6), D Garret Overlock (2 & 3), RW Lee Stempniak (3 & 1), D Grant Lewis (1 & 2), LW Jarrett Sampson (1 & 2), G Dan Yacey (2-3, 1.61, .934)

Outlook: Maine has scored 19 goals in its last three games, but Dartmouth has held opponents to four goals in its last three. Stempniak was a first team All-American last year. Big Green RW Hugh Jessiman, a first-round draft pick of the New York Rangers, is out for the season with an ankle injury. Dartmouth is tied for second in the nation in goals-against (2.00) and Yacey has the fourth-best GAA. Maine is tied for ninth in goals-against (2.40) and is 13th in scoring (3.6 GPG). Dartmouth is outshooting its opponents by an average of 38.4-24 but averages only 2.25 GPG. The teams play a similar style with an aggressive 1-2-2 forecheck. Both will trap if they can’t establish the forecheck. The Bears will need to break the puck out of the defensive zone cleanly, win the special teams battle, and pressure the puck when they lose possession.