HOCKEY EAST SEMIFINALS

Maine vs. Boston University

Time, site: Friday, 7 p.m., FleetCenter, Boston

Records: Maine 22-9-7, Boston University 25-8-3

Series, last meeting: BU leads 37-34-7; 4-4 tie on March 2

Key players: Maine – RW Niko Dimitrakos (18 goals, 28 assists), RW Colin Shields (26 & 17), C Martin Kariya (16 & 27), D Peter Metcalf (7 & 36), C Tommy Reimann (11 & 20), LW Lucas Lawson (15 & 12), D Michael Schutte (10 & 16), G Mike Morrison (18-3-4, 2.17 GAA, .922 save percentage); Boston University – LW Mike Pandolfo (21 & 17), LW Jack Baker (15 & 13), RW Frantisek Skladany (13 & 13), C Brian McConnell (11 & 15), RW Justin Maiser (8 & 14), D Chris Dyment (6 & 16), C Gregg Johnson (5 & 17), G Sean Fields (22-5-3, 2.64, .902)

Outlook: The Terriers will be without defensemen Pat Aufiero (severed tendon in front of ankle) and Bryan Miller (separated shoulder). Miller had three of his four goals against Maine, including the tying and overtime goals in a 3-2 win in Orono on Nov. 9. Neither played in the 4-4 tie. Baker has three goals and three assists in the three meetings this season. Dimitrakos has five goals and three assists to lead Maine vs. BU this season. BU is 5-3 against Maine in the Hockey East Tournament but the Bears have won the only two semifinal meetings. These teams are very similar. Both forecheck aggressively and crash the net. Their last two games were physical and penalty-filled. Neither team can afford to take a lot of penalties.