If the University of Maine men’s hockey team plays up to its potential, it should earn its eighth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and improve on last year’s 20-13-7 record.

But it will be inexperienced in goal and it’s unlikely that an unseasoned goaltender will lead the Black Bears to a spot in a national championship game for the third time in five years.

It is rare, although Denver freshman netminder Peter Mannino pulled off the feat a year ago, being named the Most Outstanding Player in the Frozen Four as Denver won its second straight NCAA title.

That’s the predicament facing the Bears this season as they try to replace Jimmy Howard, who left school a year early to sign with the Detroit Red Wings after setting virtually every school goaltending record.

Sophomore Matt Lundin showed positive glimpses in 150 minutes of duty last year. Freshman Ben Bishop, a third-round draft pick of St. Louis, will be the tallest goalie to ever play at Maine at 6-foot-61/2 and is coming off a national championship with the Texas Tornado of the North American Hockey League.

Don’t be surprised if the goaltending exceeds expectations. Assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Grant Standbrook has sent six goalies to the NHL and head coach Tim Whitehead has indicated that since they have a good start on recruiting for next year, having received verbal commitments from three players already, Standbrook will be able to spend more time with the goalies and less time on the road.

That will benefit the entire team as well.

One aspect of Maine’s game that has to improve is its ability to clear the front of its net.

That’s one of the reasons they’ve brought in three defensemen in Bryan Plaszcz, Matt Duffy and Simon Danis-Pepin who stand 6-2, 6-2 and 6-7, respectively.

“What we wanted to do with our defensemen recruits was add some size and reach to protect the front of our net. And we also wanted to add some offensive punch. All three defensemen are offensive-minded,” said fifth-year coach Whitehead. “One of the reasons we were average offensively last year was because we were seventh in the league in offensive production from our defensemen.”

Hockey East All-Rookie Team defenseman Bret Tyler had six goals last season but the other defensemen combined for just seven between them.

Maine was held to two goals or less in nearly half of its games (19 of 40).

But the primary reason the Bears averaged only 3.1 goals per game was the streaky play of their forwards.

That came to the glaring forefront in their season-ending losses to Boston College in the Hockey East semis (2-1 in double overtime) and to Minnesota (1-0 in overtime) in their NCAA Tournament opener.

Part of the problem is Maine’s system stresses defense first.

That ideology will be tweaked a little this season. Not much, because Maine’s team defense has paved the way to seven straight NCAA berths.

But enough to increase the offensive zone pressure and goal production.

There will be a balance because they certainly don’t want to hang the young goalies out to dry.

“I think you’ll see a lot more offense from us this year,” said senior captain and right wing Greg Moore. “We have so many veterans coming back. Our speed has increased. None of our four lines will be weak or easy to cover. Contributions can come from all four lines.”

Moore also said there will be more consistency from the power play, which finished the year operating at just 16.2 percent and had some dismal stretches of ineffectiveness.

“Our forwards are definitely going to be the strength of our team. Our forwards will dictate the success we have,” said senior defenseman and alternate captain Steve Mullin. “I’m extremely confident that with the guys we have returning and the freshmen coming in, our forwards are going to have a great season.”

Junior defenseman Mike Lundin added, “The style of our team will lead to more goal scoring than the past couple of years.”

Ten of Maine’s top 11 scorers are back but the Bears’ leading scorer, Derek Damon, had just 27 points last season on 14 goals and 13 assists. UNH had seven players with more than 27 points.

Junior center Jon Jankus (8 & 17) and Moore (14 & 9) also need to be more consistent goal-producers.

Damon had only nine goals over his last 34 games; Jankus had four over his last 31 and Moore had nine over his last 33 games.

Michel Leveille, who was the Hockey East Rookie of the Year, appeared in just 33 games last year due to injury and should significantly improve upon his numbers (12 & 12). He had 6 & 34 two years ago.

Josh Soares (12 & 11) and Brent Shepheard (11 & 11) emerged into productive regulars as sophomores last year and should be even more productive as should fellow junior Keith Johnson (9 & 2).

Keenan Hopson (3 & 16) and Billy Ryan (6 & 9) displayed impressive offensive instincts and could have breakthrough sophomore years. Ryan will be slowed early by a broken bone in his foot.

Rob Bellamy (3 & 4) provided the Bears with a punishing body checker and physical presence and his loss (broken hand) before the BC semifinal was felt.

Mike Hamilton (3 & 15) scored four fewer goals than his freshman season and needs to rebound.

Redshirts John Hopson, Keenan’s brother, and Vince Laise and freshmen Jeff Marshall and Chris Hahn could factor into the mix along with sophomore Wes Clark (2 & 1 in 11 games), who will be sidelined for at least another month with a broken leg.

On defense, the Bears have four regulars back in Tyler (6 & 14), Mullin (0 & 4), Lundin (1 & 13) and sophomore Travis Ramsey (1 & 2 in 18 games).

Lundin had a better freshman season (3 & 16) and said he is looking to “improve in all aspects” of his game.

Senior Travis Wight has appeared in only 25 games the past two seasons after playing in 37 as a freshman and this is his chance to re-establish himself.

The three freshmen defensemen could all become significant contributors.

Sophomore Ryan Shelley will be the No. 3 goalie.

Maine opens on the road Friday night against Air Force Academy at Colorado College.

UMaine hockey schedule

OCTOBER

7 – vs. Air Force at Colo. College, 7 p.m.

8 – at Colorado College, 10 p.m.

14 – Denver, 8 p.m., CSTV

15 – Denver, 7 p.m., WABI-TV

21 – Alabama-Huntsville, 7 p.m., WABI-TV

22 – Alabama-Huntsville, 7 p.m.

28 – at Boston College, 7 p.m.

29 – at UMass Amherst, 7 p.m.

NOVEMBER

4 – Merrimack, 7 p.m., WABI-TV

6 – Boston University, 2 p.m.

11 – at UMass Lowell, 7 p.m.

12 – at New Hampshire, 7 p.m., NHPTV

19 – USA Under-18, 7 p.m.

27 – Vermont, 2 p.m.

DECEMBER

2 – at Providence, 7 p.m.

7 – vs. Brown at Portland, 7 p.m.

10 – Northeastern, 7 p.m. WABI-TV

27 – vs. Minnesota-Duluth at Florida College Classic, 7:35 p.m.

28 – vs. Cornell or Northeastern at Florida College Classic, 4:05 or 7:35 p.m.

JANUARY

6 – UMass Lowell, 7 p.m.

7 – UMass Lowell, 7 p.m., WABI-TV

13 – at Boston Univ., 7 p.m., NESN-TV

14 – at Boston Univ., 7 p.m.

20 – Providence, 7 p.m., NESN-TV

21 – Providence, 7 p.m., WABI-TV

27 – at Northeastern, 7 p.m.

28 – at Northeastern, 7 p.m.

FEBRUARY

3 – New Hampshire, 8 p.m.

4 – New Hampshire, 7 p.m., WABI-TV

10 – at Vermont, 8 p.m.

11 – at Vermont, 7 p.m.

17 – Boston College, 8 p.m.

18 – Boston College, 7 p.m., WABI-TV

24 – at Merrimack, 7 p.m.

25 – at Merrimack, 7 p.m.

MARCH

3 – UMass Amherst, 7 p.m.

4 – UMass Amherst, 7 p.m. WABI-TV

Note: All games broadcast on Bangor radio station WZON-AM (620)