University of Maine sophomore linemates Mike Hamilton and Keith Johnson have each had their ups and downs this season. They have both been healthy scratches.

But both are playing some of their best hockey now and the Bears will need them to be at their best this weekend when Boston University, 13-9 overall and 9-3 in Hockey East, visits Orono for a pair of important Hockey East games.

Maine is 12-8-4 and 7-3-2, respectively.

Maine senior right wing and co-captain John Ronan said the play of Hamilton and Johnson will be “huge” in determining the outcome of the Friday-Saturday series.

“They’re two of our better skaters. They can really fly. And both are good with the puck,” said Ronan.

Junior Derek Damon, who centers the two of them, concurred.

“The reason [they will be pivotal] is both of them move so well without the puck. Keith is a guy who can get to loose pucks. He’s strong on his feet and is very agile,” said Damon. “Mike works hard every shift. He is also strong on his skates and he can fly. He has so many offensive tools. He can shoot, he can pass, he can really bear down and get something going for our line when something might not be happening.”

That line has been together for the last three games and they’ve combined for four goals and six assists. Hamilton and Damon each have a goal and three assists and Johnson has two goals.

“We’ve been playing pretty well together,” said Hamilton. “We have good speed, Derek has good vision and I just try to accommodate those two.”

Damon added, “We spent a lot of time cycling the puck in the offensive zone at UMass last weekend. We can all do it well. Now we’ve just got to start taking it to the net.”

Johnson said he is looking to be more productive offensively.

“Last year, I wasn’t that confident when I had the puck. But I feel I can score now. I’m more confident when I get a scoring opportunity,” said Johnson who hopes to continue to use his speed to create scoring opportunities.

“I’ve got to use it to my advantage to get around defensemen,” said Johnson.

Hamilton, who scored three important postseason goals last season, didn’t score a goal until his 13th game this season.

“I came in thinking I had to contribute too much offensively,” said Hamilton. “I kind of got away from my game which is being a power forward and playing the body. When I got back to playing my game, it helped me offensively, defensively and all-around. It gave me a big boost.”

The Maine players know they will have their hands full against a BU team coming off a pair of losses to Boston College.

“They’re coming off a tough weekend with BC and they’ll want to get back on the winning track. They’ll be hungry. And we want to stay on the winning track,” said Damon referring to his team’s three-game unbeaten streak (2-0-1).

Like Maine, the BU players are looking forward to renewing the rivalry.

“They’re one of our main rivals and I’m sure they probably view us as a rival,” said BU senior center and captain Brian McConnell, who expects a tight-checking series which has been the norm in recent years.

“I love playing up there. There’s a great atmosphere,” added McConnell.

The Terriers will regain the services of talented freshman left wing Chris Bourque, who has been out since Dec. 29 with a knee injury, and McConnell said that will “definitely give us a big lift.”