MAINE vs. VERMONT

Time, site: Saturday, 7 p.m.; Gutterson Fieldhouse, Burlington, Vt.

Records: Maine 7-3-1 (4-2-1 Hockey East); Vermont 8-3-2 (5-3-1)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 13-10-2, Maine 2-0 on 3/1/08

Key players: Maine – RW Gustav Nyquist (5 goals, 5 assists), C Chris Hahn (4 & 2), C Tanner House (3 & 3), LW Brian Flynn (2 & 4), D Josh Van Dyk (0 & 5), D Simon Danis-Pepin (0 & 4), G Scott Darling (5-1-1, 0.99 GAA, .960 save pct.); Vermont – LW Peter Lenes (5 & 12), LW Viktor Stalberg (6 & 6), C Brian Roloff (4 & 6), C Dean Strong (1 & 9), C Justin Milo (6 & 3), D Josh Burrows (1 & 3), G Mike Spillane (4-2-1, 2.83, .896)

Outlook: Three of the last four meetings have produced a shutout with Maine winning twice. Both are on a tear as Maine is 6-0-1 in its last seven games while Vermont is 5-1-1. Both teams emphasize in-your-face defense and both are adept at shot blocking. The Catamounts have much more experience and explosiveness up front. The forwards on Vermont’s top three lines have played in an average of 93.2 career games while Maine’s forwards average 32.4 career games. The 5-foot-6 Lenes is having a great senior year and is a constant threat. UVM has the nation’s sixth-best power play (20.3 percent success rate), while Maine has the eighth-best penalty-killing unit (92.6). Maine is in an 0-for-18 drought on the power play. Vermont is just 2-2-1 at home, but the Cats have been terrific on the road (5-1-1). Maine is 3-0 on the road. Maine defenseman Jeff Dimmen is out due to injury.