MAINE vs. MASSACHUSETTS

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

Records: Maine 5-0 (0-0 Hockey East); UMass 2-0-1, (1-0 HE)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 34-6-5; Maine 5-3 on 3/4/06

Key players: Maine – C Michel Leveille (4 goals, 5 assists), RW Teddy Purcell (5 & 2), D Bret Tyler (0 & 6), C Wes Clark (3 & 2), RW Keith Johnson (2 & 3), D Mike Lundin (1 & 2), G Ben Bishop (5-0, 1.49 GAA, .944 save pct.); UMass – C Cory Quirk (1 & 3), LW P.J. Fenton (1 & 2), LW Kevin Jarman (2 & 0), RW Chris Davis (2 & 0), C Matt Anderson (0 & 2), G Jon Quick (1-0-1, 2.40, .924), G Dan Meyers (1-0, 2.00, .900)

Outlook: Maine is No. 1 in the country, but the Minutemen are coming off a noteworthy 3-2 win at UNH on Thursday, and they will come into Alfond with confidence. The Minutemen have played well at Alfond although their ice sheet is 10 feet wider than Alfond. They are 3-3-1 in their last seven games in Orono. Maine has one of the nation’s best power-play percentages (29.3 percent success rate), while UMass has been formidable on the penalty kill (86.7 percent). Both teams utilize an aggressive 1-2-2 forecheck and stress team defense. They are also good skating teams with impressive depth. UMass will have to neutralize the line of Leveille, Purcell, and Josh Soares (2 & 2). Fenton and defenseman David Leaderer are former Hockey East All-Rookie team choices.