Men’s hockey

MAINE vs. PROVIDENCE

Time, site: Friday, 7 p.m., Schneider Arena, Providence, R.I.

Records: Maine 9-4 (4-3 Hockey East); Providence 6-6-1 (6-2-1 HE)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 52-31-4, Maine 6-2 on 2/19/05

Key players: Maine – LW Billy Ryan (3 goals, 10 assists), C Keenan Hopson (3 & 10), LW Josh Soares (6 & 6), RW Greg Moore (8 & 3), C Derek Damon (5 & 6), D Bret Tyler (1 & 6), G Ben Bishop (6-3, 1.89 goals-against average, .920 save percentage); Providence – LW Torry Gajda (6 & 8), C Chase Watson (3 & 8), RW Jon Rheault (4 & 6), RW Jamie Carroll (2 & 7), C Colin McDonald (4 & 3), D James Pemberton (3 & 3), G Tyler Sims (6-5-1, 2.48, .917)

Outlook: Both have recently struggled and a big reason has been a lack of goal production. Maine has lost three of its last four Hockey East games, scoring only four goals in the three setbacks. Providence is 1-3-1 in its last five games overall, scoring two goals in each. Providence has scored 19 of its 36 goals in the third period and overtime. Providence’s defensemen have scored eight goals; Maine’s have scored three. Maine coach Tim Whitehead is rearranging three of the four lines that played in the 2-1 loss to Vermont Sunday to try to jumpstart the offense. The Bears have to do a better job getting to the net front and creating traffic and rebound opportunities in front of Sims. Maine is No. 1 in the country in penalty-killing (94.1 percent) and second in GAA (1.54).