NCAA Frozen Four Semifinal

MAINE vs. MICHIGAN STATE

Time, site: Thursday, 4 p.m.; Scottrade Center, St. Louis

Records: Maine 23-14-2, MSU 24-13-3

Series, last meeting: MSU leads 8-4-1; Maine 5-4 on 3/26/06

Key players: Maine – C Michel Leveille (19 goals, 25 assists), LW Josh Soares (19 & 24), RW Teddy Purcell (16 & 27), LW Billy Ryan (13 & 20), D Bret Tyler (6 & 20), D Mike Lundin (6 & 14), G Ben Bishop (21-8-2, 2.08 goals-against average, .925); MSU – LW Tim Kennedy (17 & 23), LW Bryan Lerg (23 & 13), C Justin Abdelkader (14 & 16), C Chris Mueller (14 & 15), D Tyler Howells (4 & 21), D Daniel Vukovic (7 & 4), G Jeff Lerg (24-13-3, 2.46, .911)

Outlook: Both teams overcame rough late-season stretches and were in danger of missing the NCAA Tournament before rebounding to reach the Frozen Four. MSU has won five of its last six. They each have two top scoring lines, an effective third line, a solid defense corps, and top-notch goaltenders. Maine’s Ryan and MSU’s Kennedy have five-game point streaks. Ryan has four goals and two assists and Kennedy has 4 & 3. MSU is a very good forechecking team, so Maine has to keep the Spartans to the perimeter and weather some sustained forechecks. Maine will try to generate speed through the neutral zone and create some odd-man rushes. They will also try to transition from offense to defense immediately to choke off potential odd-man rushes by the Spartans.