MAINE vs. PROVIDENCE

Time, site: Friday, Saturday, 7 p.m., Schneider Arena, Providence, R.I.

Records: Maine 14-5-2 (7-5-1 Hockey East); Providence 5-15-1 (4-9-1)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 54-33-4, Maine 3-0 on 12/1/06

Key players: Maine – RW Teddy Purcell (12 goals, 17 assists), LW Josh Soares (13 & 15), C Michel Leveille (12 & 13), LW Billy Ryan (5 & 13), D Bret Tyler (3 & 13), D Mike Lundin (4 & 9), G Ben Bishop (14-5-2, 2.24 GAA, .913 save pct.); Providence – RW Colin McDonald (9 & 1), C Nick Mazzolini (3 & 7), RW Jon Rheault (4 & 5), RW Pierce Norton (4 & 4), Cody Wild (0 & 7), D Mark Fayne (3 & 2), G Tyler Sims (4-12-1, 2.85, .893)

Outlook: Maine will try to bounce back after last weekend’s back-to-back home losses to Boston University. The Friars snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 3-2 overtime win at UMass Lowell on Saturday. PC has scored only nine goals in its last eight games. The teams have split their last six meetings with PC winning two of the last three at Schneider Arena. Soares has 9 & 5 in his last eight games. Purcell had his 10-game points streak (7 & 8) snapped in the 3-0 Saturday loss to BU. Four of the Friars’ five wins have been at home (4-7). Maine is 6-1-1 on the road. The Friars are better than their record. They are fast and physical and good in transition.