The problems have been singled out and addressed.

Now it’s up to the University of Maine’s 8-2-1 men’s hockey team to return to the form that produced a seven-game winning streak to start the season when it takes on the surging 6-4-1 University of Vermont Catamounts, winners of four straight, at Gutterson Fieldhouse today at 2 p.m.

Maine, ranked No. 2 in the country in both polls, has lost two straight and has allowed 12 goals after giving up 13 in its previous nine games.

In addition, Maine coach Tim Whitehead has juggled three lines to try to regain the scoring balance that was in evidence earlier this season.

The top line of Michel Leveille between Josh Soares and Teddy Purcell will remain intact. Leveille has scored five of Maine’s last 11 goals and the trio has combined for 20 of Maine’s 44 goals (45.5 percent).

“That has been our most productive line so we didn’t want to break them up,” said Whitehead. “The key is to get more production out of our other three lines. Early on, we were getting offensive contributions from everybody. We need to get the rest of the team contributing again. The defensemen were contributing quite a bit early, too, but we’ve got to be careful with that. They’ve been taking a few too many [offensive] chances recently. They’ve got to play a little less high-risk.”

Maine’s defensive zone coverage has to get better, according to Whitehead and senior center and captain Leveille.

“We’ve been lacking awareness in the defensive zone. You need to have your head on a swivel so you know who’s behind you. Instead, we’ve been puck-watching,” said Leveille. “We had been real good [in the defensive zone] the past couple of years and, right now, that’s one of our weaknesses and we need to improve on that.”

Maine senior right wing Keith Johnson agreed.

“We had been getting away with it until it finally caught up to us. It was a good wakeup call,” he said. “We’ve really focused on it this week in practice.”

Johnson returned to the lineup in the 4-3 overtime loss to Boston College Sunday after missing three games with a knee injury.

“I definitely wasn’t 100 percent last week. I had a big knee brace on and it wasn’t real comfortable. I found a smaller brace and it fits a lot better. I didn’t have that jump [I usually have] against BC but, hopefully, I’ll recapture it the more I skate and I’ll have a better game [against Vermont],” said Johnson who was averaging a point per game when he got hurt.

Freshman right wing Tyler Czuba, a 60-goal scorer in junior hockey last year, will make his debut on a line with Keenan Hopson and Billy Ryan.

“He has very good offensive skills and awareness. He has been working on his defensive play,” said Whitehead. “I’m excited for him. He’s going to be a real good player for us down the road. He’s got pretty good hands, especially in-tight around the net. He can shoot the puck and he’s a good passer.”

Juniors Ryan and Hopson like what they’ve seen from their new linemate.

“In practice, it’s the best our line has looked all season,” said Ryan.