ORONO – When you are the checking line’s center, defense is your top priority.

You are responsible for making sure the opponents’ most dangerous offensive threats are neutralized.

Jon Jankus has been the University of Maine men’s hockey team’s checking line center for most of his career and he ended a 20-game drought without an even-strength goal on Friday night in the 6-3 win over Northeastern.

He also had game-winning assists each night.

Jankus, who had a power-play goal and a shorthanded goal during that stretch, admitted the drought nagged at him.

“It kind of plays in your head. You press too much. It takes away from your game,” said Jankus, who has five goals and six assists in 25 games. “For me, it’s defense first and offense comes next. It’s been frustrating. But as long as the team wins, whether I have something to do with it or not, it doesn’t really matter to me.”

He said he loves his role as the checking line center.

“You get a chance to play against the other top lines that aren’t really thinking defensively, so you get to catch them at times and get your breaks that way,” said Jankus. “It has been that way the past two years.”

“I’ve had a rough little period [offensively] this year, but hopefully I’m turning the corner on that,” added Jankus.

Jankus said he has never lacked confidence in his game.

“It’s more just execution. It’s good to have a weekend like that, especially looking forward to probably the biggest weekend of the year,” said Jankus, referring to this weekend’s two-game home series with arch-rival New Hampshire. The Wildcats lead Maine by one point in the battle for fourth place in Hockey East.

That will probably mean Jankus will be keeping an eye on UNH snipers Jacob Micflikier, Daniel Winnik and Brett Hemingway.

“All three are great players. You have to know where they are on the ice,” said Jankus, who has collected 25 points in each of the last two seasons. “If it’s my job to try and contain them, they don’t score and we win, I’ll be happy.”

Leveille, Tyler may be back

Maine senior center Michel Leveille and top-scoring defenseman Brett Tyler, who each have missed the last five games with a sprained knee and a high ankle sprain, respectively, may be back for this weekend’s series against UNH.

Both skated with the team for the first time Monday, although they were not allowed to have contact.

Maine athletic trainer Mark Badurak said both have progressed very well while rehabbing their injuries, but he won’t know until later this week if they’ll be able to play.

“It’s certainly possible,” said Leveille. “I feel a little better. The swelling is going down and I’ve been able to stretch my leg a lot more and keep it straight. I’ve done a lot of rehab with Mark.”

“It’s a slow process. The brace is going to help. I should be ready to go. It’s a big weekend at home,” added Leveille.

Leveille is supposed to get a new knee brace today. His current one “digs too much into my calf.”

Leveille had 10 goals and 10 assists in 21 games and had a six-game point-scoring streak (5 goals, 6 assists) when he was hurt against Boston University.

Tyler had 3 & 10 in 17 games.