Men’s hockey

MAINE vs. VERMONT

Time, site: Friday, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, 8 p.m.; Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 17-8-2 (10-8-1 Hockey East), Vermont 15-9-4 (10-5-4)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 10-9-1; UVM 3-2 on 11/25/06

Key players: Maine – RW Teddy Purcell (14 goals, 18 assists), LW Josh Soares (15 & 15), C Michel Leveille (13 & 16), D Bret Tyler (3 & 16), D Mike Lundin (4 & 9), G Ben Bishop (17-7-2, 2.14 GAA, .922 save pct.), G Dave Wilson (0-1, 4.47, .821); Vermont – C Torrey Mitchell (11 & 18), C Dean Strong (12 & 12), C Brayden Irwin (4 & 12), D Kenny Macaulay (3 & 12), RW Corey Carlson (8 & 5), RW Colin Vock (8 & 4), G Joe Fallon (14-8-3, 1.66, .927)

Outlook: The matchups are intriguing. Despite a recent 3-for-36 slump, Maine still has the nation’s best power-play percentage (24.4 percent), while UVM has the top penalty-killing success rate (91 percent). Fallon leads the nation in GAA. The Catamounts are the third stingiest team in the nation, allowing 1.86 GPG, while Maine is eighth in goal production (3.52). The Catamounts love to outnumber an opponent on the puck, so Maine will have to move the puck quickly and try to get to the net-front to screen Fallon. Vermont had its seven-game unbeaten streak (4-0-3) snapped by Providence 4-1 on Saturday. Five of UVM’s top 13 scorers are freshmen. UVM coach Kevin Sneddon is looking for his team to play with more of an edge and with more energy than last weekend.