MAINE vs. MERRIMACK

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

Records: Maine 19-10-2 (12-10-1 HE); Merrimack 3-23-4 (3-18-2)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 51-8-5; Maine 4-1 on 11/3/06

Key players: Maine – LW Josh Soares (18 goals, 17 assists), RW Teddy Purcell (14 & 21), C Michel Leveille (15 & 18), LW Billy Ryan (9 & 16), D Bret Tyler (3 & 17), D Mike Lundin (6 & 10), G Ben Bishop (17-8-2, 2.25 GAA, .918 save pct.); Merrimack – LW Pat Kimball (4 & 6), RW J.C. Robitaille (3 & 6), RW Matt Byrnes (2 & 6), LW Mike Alexiou (2 & 5), D Pat Bowen (0 & 6), G Jim Healey (1-13-3, 2.83, .903), G Patrick Watson (2-7-1, 2.98, .892)

Outlook: The Warriors are winless in their last 12 (0-10-2) and have scored just 11 goals in that span. They’ve scored one goal or less in 10 of their last 11. They are the lowest-scoring team in the nation with only 33 goals in their 30 games. However, they have been stingy of late, holding opponents to three goals or less in eight of their last nine games. In the earlier game, all four of Maine’s goals came on the power play. Maine is 28-3-1 all-time vs. Merrimack at Alfond Arena, including a current 14-game unbeaten streak (13-0-1). Merrimack is a young, hard-working team that earned a pair of 1-1 ties with Vermont on Jan. 26-27. Its strong defensive game can create frustration. Maine has to keep things simple and get to the netfront while maintaining its defense-first mindset.