MAINE vs. MERRIMACK

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

Records: Maine 7-1 overall (2-0 Hockey East); Merrimack 3-4 (0-2 HE)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 49-6-5, Maine 5-0 on 12/4/04

Key players: Maine – C Derek Damon (5 goals, 4 assists), RW Greg Moore (4 & 3), LW Josh Soares (4 & 3), C Michel Leveille (3 & 4), C Keenan Hopson (2 & 5), D Bret Tyler (0 & 1), G Ben Bishop (4-1 record, 1.59 goals-against average, .938 save percentage); Merrimack – RW Matt Johnson (5 & 1), C Rob Ricci (1 & 5), LW Hank Carisio (3 & 1), D Bryan Schmidt (1 & 3), LW Brent Gough (0 & 3), D Ryan Sullivan (0 & 2), G Jim Healey (3-3, 3.65, .890)

Outlook: The Bears can’t afford to look ahead to Sunday afternoon’s game with rival Boston University. Merrimack is 0-18-1 in its last 19 league games, but the tie (2-2) was in Orono. The Warriors have a good defense corps, including one of the nation’s top offensive defensemen in Schmidt, and some quick forwards. First-year coach Mark Dennehy’s Warriors lost to UMass Lowell 3-1 on Wednesday, so the Bears will be fresher and might be able to capitalize early. Maine is unbeaten in its last 18 at Alfond Arena (15-0-3). Maine is 20-1-4 in its last 25 against the Warriors, including a current 11-game unbeaten streak (9-0-2). Merrimack has killed off the last 16 power plays while Maine has five power-play goals in its last three games.