ORONO – University of Maine center and assistant captain Michel Leveille had gone three games without a point.

And when assistant coach Grant Standbrook told him in a one-on-one meeting between the wins over Brown (Nov. 7) and Northeastern (Nov. 10) that he wasn’t playing up to his potential, he took it to heart.

Since then, Leveille has racked up five goals and five assists in five games.

“That was a wakeup call for me,” said Leveille. “He told me the truth. He said I could be a lot better than what I was showing on the ice. I was letting the game come to me. He said I could work harder to keep the puck. The puck should be mine out there. That’s the way I’ve been playing ever since.

“Grant knows what he’s talking about. I have so much respect for Grant. He knows the game and he knows every player. Criticism is always a good thing if you take it the right way.”

Leveille said he now strives “to be a factor every game.

“Our line wants to be the dominant line on the ice against every team we’re playing,” added Leveille, who is flanked by junior Josh Soares and senior captain Greg Moore.

Moore said ever since Standbrook’s talk, Leveille has been playing the “best he’s ever played here.”

Soares concurred.

“He has his confidence back, he’s working hard and he’s doing all of the little things right. Michel has been playing well in both ends of the ice. He’s great with the puck. He has great imagination out there and he has great hands,” said Soares.

UMass Lowell coach Blaise MacDonald said Leveille “always seems to make something out of nothing. He has a high hockey IQ and a low panic threshold. He is one of the most dynamic players in Hockey East.”

His linemates have certainly benefited from Leveille’s resurgence.

Moore has 4 & 2 in those five games and Soares has 1 & 5.

Moore and Leveille have been together all season but Soares has been with them for just the last seven games.

“We have finally found the final piece to the puzzle in Josh,” said Moore. “The thing I like most about him is he shows up to play every night. He’s consistent. He doesn’t have ups and downs and he’s a good goal scorer. It is working out really well for us.”

Soares said is enjoying being on the line.

“It took some getting used to. But now we know what each other tends to do and tends not to do. And we’re clicking,” said Soares.

The Bears will visit Boston University for a Friday-Saturday series.

Saturday’s game has been switched from 7 p.m. to 5 p.m. so people can watch the New England Patriots’ 8 p.m. playoff game against Denver.