Billy Ryan began the hockey season behind the eight ball.

The University of Maine’s junior left wing had ankle surgery in the offseason.

That prevented him from working out and improving his strength.

He returned to school on crutches but hasn’t missed a game.

By his own admission, he got off to a slow start. But in recent weeks, he has started to emerge as a dangerous presence.

Ryan will enter this weekend’s important Hockey East series against Massachusetts with a four-game points streak (2 goals, 3 assists). He assisted on both game-winners in the 3-0 and 5-1 wins over Merrimack last weekend.

Ryan’s stickhandling wizardry could be better served on the Mullins Center ice sheet, which is 10 feet wider than Maine’s Alfond Arena.

“I see him every day in practice and he’s extremely difficult to stop,” said Maine junior defenseman Bret Tyler. “If he can get his speed going, and Olympic sheets are made so you can get a lot more speed going, UMass will have to watch out.

“I knew he would come around. He’s one of our most gifted offensive players,” added Tyler. “We need guys like Billy to score big-time goals for us. He scored a couple of huge goals at BC [in a 6-5 loss]. He has been playing fantastic. He’s been doing the little things well and been doing some things that are fun to watch.”

Ryan, who has 9 goals and 18 assists in 33 games, said he started to feel healthier in the second half. “I started working my legs [in the weight room] around Christmas. My legs feel stronger so I feel a lot faster and stronger with the puck. I’m real comfortable out there now.”

He likes playing on the bigger ice surface.

“You definitely have a lot more time to make plays. If you’re patient, you can find open guys,,” he said.

UMass coach Don Cahoon knows Ryan is one of the Bears he will have to be concerned with this weekend.

“He’s a very cerebral player,” said Cahoon. “He sees the ice extremely well and shoots the puck a ton. He’s clearly a hockey player and has a nice effect in any game situation.”

Maine coach Tim Whitehead said Ryan is “really emerging for us.

“He’s finally healthy and has regained his strength. He has become a complete player,” said Whitehead. “Most importantly, we can play him in any situation: power play, penalty kill as well as the first and last minute of a game.”

Whitehead said Ryan came to Maine as an “elite offensive player who needed to expand his game defensively and he’s done that.”

Ryan knows there is a lot at stake this weekend, namely home ice for the Hockey East quarterfinals.

Maine and UMass are tied for the fourth and final home-ice slot, one point ahead of Vermont, which hosts UMass Lowell for a pair.

“We determine our own destiny now. This is the biggest series of the year. This will be like playoff hockey,” said Ryan. “They’re a small, fast team which is good for the bigger ice surface. We definitely have to get in front of the goalie’s [Jon Quick] eyes. He’s real good.”

Maine will have backup Dave Wilson between the pipes because Ben Bishop is sidelined with a groin pull.

“He’ll do fine. Nobody’s worried about him,” said Ryan.

Maine has a decided edge in big-game experience, having been to eight straight NCAA Tournaments and two Frozen Fours over the last three years.

UMass has never played in the NCAA Division I tournament.