Men’s hockey

MAINE vs. UMASS LOWELL

Time, site: Friday, Saturday, 7 p.m.; Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 12-6 (5-4 Hockey East); UML 6-11 (3-7 HE)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 58-22-3; Maine 9-2 on 11/11/05

Key players: Maine – RW Greg Moore (11 goals, 5 assists), C Keenan Hopson (3 & 13), LW Josh Soares (6 & 9), C Michel Leveille (8 & 6), D Mike Lundin (1 & 7), G Matt Lundin (5-2, 1.25 GAA, .950 save pct.), G Ben Bishop (7-4, 2.15, .912); UML – RW Bobby Robins (7 & 10), LW Mark Pandolfo (9 & 6), C Elias Godoy (2 & 13), C Jason Tejchma (6 & 4), RW Danny O’Brien (5 & 5), D Cleve Kinley (0 & 6), G Peter Vetri (6-11, 3.75, .895)

Outlook: Maine has won the last seven meetings, outscoring the River Hawks 37-12. Both teams will be missing one of their best forwards as Maine’s Billy Ryan (shoulder) and UML’s Andrew Martin (abdominal strain) are out. Maine will have to be intelligent with the puck in the defensive zone because the River Hawks are aggressive on the forecheck and their defensemen like to pinch. The River Hawk power play has converted on 36.4 percent of its chances over the last six games, but Maine has allowed just one power-play goal in its last six (27-for-28). The UML penalty kill is the worst in the league (in all games) with a 79.4 percent efficiency rate while Maine’s power play is second best (20.6 percent). Maine LW Derek Damon has eight career goals vs. UML.