Men’s hockey

MAINE vs. No. 9 NORTHEASTERN

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

Records: Maine 6-8-2 (3-5-2 Hockey East), NU 9-4-2 (6-3-1)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 46-35-15; Maine 4-3 on 10/27/07

Key players: Maine – D Bret Tyler (4 goals, 5 assists), LW Billy Ryan (3 & 6), C Wes Clark (2 & 7), RW Andrew Sweetland (4 & 3), RW Rob Bellamy (2 & 5), D Simon Danis-Pepin (1 & 1), G Ben Bishop (6-8-2, 2.47 GAA, .914 save pct.); Northeastern – C Joe Vitale (5 & 9), RW Randy Guzior (6 & 5), LW Ryan Ginand (4 & 6), LW Tyler McNeely (5 & 4), RW Wade MacLeod (2 & 7), D Denis Chisholm (1 & 5), G Brad Thiessen (9-4-2, 2.35, .916)

Outlook: These teams have gone in opposite directions since Maine swept the Huskies 3-2 and 4-3 in October. NU is 8-1-2 since, including its 10-game unbeaten streak (8-0-2), while Maine is 2-6-2. NU has six, one-goal wins among its last eight. Northeastern won the Badger Showdown in Madison, Wis., last weekend. Thiessen was the league’s goalie of the month. Maine has to neutralize the line of McNelly-Vitale-MacLeod. The Bears must get grittier in front of the NU net. Bishop has struggled of late, posting an .884 save percentage in his last five starts, so sophomore Dave Wilson may get the start. Maine has scored one goal or less eight times. Hockey East All-Rookie left wing Chad Costello missed four games after having his appendix removed but he may return tonight. Maine hasn’t allowed a power-play goal in its last four games (12-for-12).