ORONO – University of Maine sophomore right winger Barrett Heisten was having a laugh at his older brother Chris’ expense. It was before a morning practice leading up to today’s 4 p.m. Hockey East Tournament semifinal against Boston University at the FleetCenter in Boston.

He was discussing their different playing styles and their on-ice chemistry as linemates flanking freshman center Marty Kariya.

“I kind of know where he’s going to be and what he does. I know a lot of the time he won’t be in the corners,” chuckled Barrett, who effectively handles that aspect of the game. “That’s how he is. He’s a lover.

“I know he’ll be in the slot somewhere. Some times I’ll have to look and then I’ll throw the puck in an area I think he’ll be and, most of the time, he gets it. He has a good touch around the net from 10 feet in. That’s one of the best things he does. He has been on fire lately. He has found his niche. He’s scoring more than me,” added Barrett, who is two years younger than his freshman brother.

Left winger Chris Heisten acknowledges their differences.

“Barrett is more hyper, more intense. I’m more laid back and calm. I’m a momma’s boy. He’s the tough one. Our grandfather (Bill Higgins) groomed my brother a lot. He taught him the ropes. My mother (Laura Dearth) taught me the other side,” said Chris Heisten.

Chris Heisten’s laid back demeanor has been a positive influence on Barrett, whose short fuse has helped produce 150 penalty minutes in 67 career games.

“They have fun together. Chris has been a calming influence on Barrett,” said Maine coach Shawn Walsh.

In a recent win over Merrimack College, Barrett had a goal disallowed and wanted to voice his opinion to referee Tim Benedetto, who had issued him a pair of 10-minute misconducts in previous games. Chris skated over to Barrett and put him in a bear hug.

“I knew if I didn’t control him, he’d get a 10-minute misconduct,” said Chris.

And Chris knows how important Barrett is to the Maine lineup.

“When he controls his temper, he’s a dominant player on the ice. He’s a big part of our team and there’s no reason for him to sit in the penalty box for 10 minutes for saying a few words,” said Chris.

Chris said his younger brother has done a decent job controlling his temper this season.

“He has his moments but you can take only so much. Every team goes after Barrett. They beat on him. The Providence defensemen butchered him last weekend. But he did pretty good (controlling himself),” said Chris.

Opposing teams know they have to find a way to neutralize Barrett Heisten, a first round pick of the Buffalo Sabres last June who is Maine’s second-leading scorer with 13 goals and 23 assists in 33 games.

“He’s a great player,” said Boston University coach Jack Parker. “Maine has a lot of people who can score but he is their offensive leader because he can do things by himself like control the puck.”

Boston College All-American defenseman Mike Mottau called Barrett Heisten “a solid power forward, one of the toughest to play against in our league. He competes really hard. Sometimes he’ll give you a stick to let you know he’s there. But that’s all in his competitive nature. He’s a driven player. He wants to win. That’s how I look at it.”

Heisten, who will turn 20 on Sunday, had 12 goals, all in the second half of the season, and added 16 assists in 34 games en route to earning All-Hockey East Rookie Team honors a year ago.

He has shown the ability to control the puck for extended periods of time, fighting off defender after defender, and then make a play.

“When I was with Stevie (Kariya) last year, he had the puck a lot. So I got out of my offensive mode. But I’m back to my old ways this year,” said Barrett Heisten, who has been encouraged to shoot more by the coaching staff.

“I’ve been shooting a little more lately. I had been trying to set it up too much. If I have a shot, I’ve got to take it. If not, I’ll pass it off,” said the 6-foot-1, 191-pounder.

Older brother Chris, who turns 22 in nine days, has six goals and two assists in his last seven games to raise his totals to 10 goals and seven assists in 26 games.

“Chris has been one of the surprises in the league. It’s tough to score 10 goals as a freshman in this league. They play well together. Barrett seems to be setting up Chris. Barrett has the puck all the time and Chris seems to know where to go. They have great chemistry,” said Walsh.

Chris Heisten pointed out that he and Barrett were linemates for two years at Diamond High School in Anchorage, Alaska, “so we know we’re able to click together as a line.

“Barrett and I work a lot after practice on special plays, like things from behind the net,” added Chris, a 6-foot, 194-pounder.

Barrett said, “It’s been fun this year playing on a line with my brother. I didn’t think we’d ever get another chance to play together after high school.”

According to Chris, Barrett was “90 percent” responsible for his coming to Maine. After spending two years playing for Lincoln (Neb.) in the United States Junior Hockey League, a frustrated Chris was ready to hang up his skates.

But former Bear Dave LaCouture called him and invited him to play for the Walpole Senior Stars (Mass.) in the Eastern Junior Hockey League last season, which he did, and that led him to Maine.

“I didn’t know if I could play here but Barrett said I could and he wouldn’t lie to me. So I thought I’d give it a shot,” said Chris.

Chris was in and out of the lineup but got another chance in the second game at UMass-Lowell on Feb. 19 and he has remained in the lineup ever since.

“I was on a line with Marty and Tommy Reimann and I started having fun again. I feel like I’m back now. I’m more in control and relaxed,” said Chris Heisten.

The Heistens are from a close-knit family that includes their mother, Laura Dearth, step-father, Bob Dearth, and grandparents, Bill and Colleen Higgins. The family has moved from Anchorage to Seattle.

“We’re always joking around at home and having fun. If Mom couldn’t take us to practice, our grandfather would take us,” said Barrett, who played for Team USA in the World Junior Championships the last two years. “We used to eat dinner a few times a week at our grandparents’ house.”

The two boys, according to Chris, are “really close.”

“We’ve always hung out together since we were little kids,” agreed Barrett.

Maine senior captain Cory Larose said, “They don’t act like brothers off the ice, they act like best friends. They’ve got something special.”