MAINE vs. NORTHEASTERN

Time, site: Saturday, Sunday, noon, Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 5-7-2 (0-4-2 Hockey East); Northeastern 2-11-1 (1-6-1)

Series, last meeting: NU leads 12-10-2, NU 6-5 on Oct. 22

Key players: Maine – C Vanessa Vani (7 goals, 8 assists), RW Robyn Law (7 & 8), LW Sonia Corriveau (7 & 5), C Brigitte Laflamme (6 & 6), D Kelly Law (3 & 5), G Rachel Gettings (1-1-1, 3.31 goals-against average, .871 save pct.), G Genevieve Turgeon (3-4-1, 3.92, .901); Northeastern – LW Chelsey Jones (8 & 7), RW Nikki Petrich (5 & 4), C Amy Goodney (0 & 7), D Lindsey Berman (3 & 3), RW Crystal Rochon (2 & 4), RW Annie Hogan (3 & 2), G Sarah Belliveau (2-6, 4.00, .878)

Outlook: The Bears are anxious to avenge a 6-5 loss in October in which they squandered a 5-1 lead. Maine is riding a six-game unbeaten streak (4-0-2). Northeastern is 0-5-1 in its last six and has lost four in a row. Maine could use a sweep to begin climbing up the HE standings. Maine has a speed advantage and will try to capitalize on it. The Bears must keep an eye on the Huskies’ top line of Jones-Goodney-Petrich. Maine is 6-2-1 in its last nine games with Northeastern. The Huskies are last in HE defense, allowing 4.93 goals per game, and second-to-last in scoring (2.36) and penalty-killing (78.6 percent). NU is the least penalized team (12.9 minutes per game) while Maine is the most penalized (18.5). Maine C Jenna Ouellette was the Hockey East Rookie of the Week.