MAINE vs. MERRIMACK

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

Records: Maine 6-3 (3-2 Hockey East); Merrimack 3-5-2 (1-4-1)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 54-10-5, Maine 3-1 on 12/8/07

Key players: Maine – RW Gustav Nyquist (5 goals, 5 assists), C Chris Hahn (4 & 2), C Tanner House (3 & 3), D Simon Danis-Pepin (0 & 4), D Jeff Dimmen (2 & 2), G Dave Wilson (1-2, 3.35 GAA, .890 save pct.), G Scott Darling (5-1, 1.00, .961); Merrimack – LW Chris Barton (4 & 2), LW Pat Kimball (4 & 2), RW Francois Ouimet (2 & 4), C Rob Ricci (2 & 1), D Joe Loprieno (1 & 2), G Joe Cannata (1-1-2, 2.25, .929), G Andrew Braithwaite (2-4-0, 2.45, .907)

Outlook: Wilson will play in goal Friday since Darling was suspended for a game for violating team rules. It will be his first start since he beat Niagara 4-2 on Oct. 31. Merrimack’s record is misleading because the Warriors have already played defending national champion Boston College three times (0-2-1). Warriors coach Mark Dennehy considers this to be the deepest of his four teams. Ricci is a former Hockey East All-Rookie selection. The Warriors took two of three from Maine last year. The Warriors are solid defensively and will congest the neutral zone if they aren’t able to get in on the forecheck. Maine will have to manage the puck well and make smart dump-ins to establish its forecheck. Maine freshman LW Brian Flynn has a five-game points streak (2 & 4). Both teams are healthy. Maine has won five straight.