Men’s hockey

MAINE vs. BOSTON COLLEGE

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

Records: Maine 8-10-2 (4-7-2 Hockey East); BC 11-5-6 (7-3-5 HE)

Series, last meeting: BC 50-38-7; 1-1 tie on 11/2/07

Key players: Maine – C Wes Clark (4 goals, 9 assists), D Bret Tyler (5 & 7), RW Rob Bellamy (3 & 8), C Jeff Marshall (3 & 5), LW Andrew Sweetland (4 & 3), D Travis Ramsey (1 & 3), G Ben Bishop (8-10-2, 2.51 GAA, .914 save pct.); Boston College – LW Nathan Gerbe (18 goals, 18 assists), LW Joe Whitney (6 & 24), C Benn Ferriero (9 & 18), RW Ben Smith (13 & 13), D Carl Sneep (3 & 5), D Anthony Aiello (2 & 6), G John Muse (11-5-6, 2.26, .922)

Outlook: BC is 8-1-1 in its last 10 games. Maine will have to follow the blueprint for Saturday’s 4-0 win at Providence: stay composed in the defensive zone, limit the Eagles’ shots to the outside, backcheck with a sense of urgency and get congestion in front of the BC net. Gerbe leads the nation in points per game (1.71) and the Bears will have to contain him. BC possesses the nation’s best power play (25.9 percent). Maine has not allowed a PPG in eight games (32-for-32). BC is third in the nation in goal production (3.73). BC is 4-0-1 in the last five meetings. Maine will be without injured LWs Billy Ryan and Chris Hahn and center David deKastrozza, but center Keenan Hopson will return to play left wing after missing three games with a separated shoulder. BC will be without RW Brock Bradford (broken arm).