Men’s hockey

MAINE vs. BOSTON COLLEGE

Time, site: Friday, Saturday, 7 p.m.; Conte Forum, Chestnut Hill, Mass.

Records: Maine 18-10-6 (13-5-4 Hockey East); BC 22-8-4 (13-3-6)

Series, last meeting: BC leads 44-35-5, BC 3-1 on 11/5/04

Key players: Maine – C Derek Damon (12 goals, 13 assists), C Jon Jankus (7 & 15), RW Greg Moore (12 & 8), LW Brent Shepheard (11 & 8), C Michel Leveille (9 & 9), D Mike Lundin (1 & 12), G Jimmy Howard (17-10-6, 1.97 goals-against average, .919 save percentage); Boston College – LW Patrick Eaves (17 & 24), C Ryan Shannon (11 & 23), RW Dave Spina (11 & 11), C Ned Havern (9 & 11), C Brian Boyle (12 & 6), D Peter Harrold (3 & 9), G Matti Kaltiainen (11-6-2, 1.75, .924)

Outlook: The Eagles will be bolstered by the return of senior defenseman Greg Lauze from a dislocated shoulder and coach Jerry York said All-American defenseman Andrew Alberts has a 50-50 chance of returning from a knee injury. Maine will have to be physical all over the ice and play air-tight defense, not allowing the Eagles any room to generate speed or use their creativity. They will also have to make smart decisions in the neutral zone as well as the offensive zone because BC is a very good transition team. They must keep a watchful eye on the line of Eaves-Shannon-Spina. BC is the third-stingiest team in the nation, allowing 1.84 goals per game, while Maine is the fifth-stingiest (1.97).

Women’s hockey

MAINE vs. CONNECTICUT

Time, site: Friday, 4 p.m., Saturday, noon; Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 14-13-3 (5-11-2 Hockey East); UConn 13-11-8 (9-5-4)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 8-3-2; Maine 3-2 on 1/22/05

Key players: Maine – C Tristan Desmet (16 goals, 14 assists), RW Andrea Steranko (10 & 12), LW Cheryl White (12 & 9), LW Sonia Corriveau (7 & 10), D Julie Poulin (4 & 7), D Laura Maddin (0 & 10), G Rachel Gettings (14-13-2, 2.27 GAA, .884 save pct.); UConn – C Jaclyn Hawkins (21 & 10), RW Tiffany Owens (12 & 15), C Megan McLeod (7 & 11), LW Shannon Connolly (7 & 11), D Natalie Vibert (5 & 10), RW Angie Wallace (8 & 3), G Kaitlyn Shain (9-7-4, 2.24, .923)

Outlook: The Black Bears have to sweep UConn and have UNH sweep Boston College if they are going to take the fourth and final Hockey East playoff spot away from BC. Maine has been held to two goals or less in eight of its last 12 games, and Shain was the Hockey East Player of the Month as she was 5-1-2, 1.47, and .941, including a 3-0-1 mark against nationally ranked UNH and Providence. UConn is 4-0-2 in its last six and Maine is 2-6 in its last eight. Maine will need Gettings to rebound from her current slump. The Bears have to play every shift like its their last because it could very well be.