University of Maine sophomore left wing Billy Ryan was one of five Black Bears who made his men’s hockey debut at the University of Vermont last season.

Ryan scored a goal in Maine’s 7-1 triumph on Oct. 3, 2004.

“Hopefully, I’ll get a couple more this weekend,” said Ryan before departing for this weekend’s crucial Hockey East series at Gutterson Fieldhouse in Burlington, Vt.

He has a lasting memory from that game, but he said it won’t enter his mind this weekend.

“Right now, our focus is on winning. These are must-win games for us,” said Ryan. The teams play tonight at 8 and Saturday night at 7.

Providence, New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont are separated by just three points in the battle to secure third and fourth place in Hockey East, which represent the final two home-ice berths for the league’s quarterfinals.

Ryan is looking forward to playing at Gutterson Fieldhouse and considers it his second favorite Hockey East rink behind the Bears’ Alfond Arena.

“It’s awesome. There’s a great atmosphere up there. And the ice is fast,” said Ryan.

Ryan will enter tonight’s game with a two-game goal-scoring streak and he knows it will be a challenge to extend it.

“They’re a good defensive team,” said Ryan.

Although the Bears had their four-game winning streak snapped in Saturday’s 7-4 loss to New Hampshire, Ryan said Maine’s third-period rally to cut the deficit from 5-1 to 5-4 before UNH sewed it up with a pair of empty-net goals gives the Bears some momentum for the weekend.

“But we’ve got to play a full 60 minutes [each game],” said Ryan.

Black Bear senior center Michel Leveille said they will be “underdogs,” but they don’t mind and they know the task at hand.

“We’ve got to play strong in the defensive zone,” said Leveille.

Both teams have been streaky.

Maine has won four of its last five after snapping a three-game losing streak.

Vermont is 2-0-1 in its last three after losing its previous three.

Maine is 5-4 on the road in Hockey East while Vermont is 5-3-1 at home in league play.

Vermont is 12th in the country in the latest USCHO.com/CSTV poll while Maine is 14th.