Maine vs. Providence

Time, site: Friday, 7 p.m., Schneider Arena, Providence, R.I.

Records: Maine 15-1-2 (5-0-1 Hockey East), Providence 9-6-1 (3-5-1)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 47-28-3; 3-3 tie on Feb. 16, 2002

Key players: Maine – C Martin Kariya (7 goals, 18 assists), C Robert Liscak (8 & 14), LW Chris Heisten (10 & 7), LW Lucas Lawson (7 & 8), D Francis Nault (5 & 10), LW Todd Jackson (5 & 9), G Frank Doyle (6-0-2, 1.80 goals-against average, .929 save percentage); Providence – C Peter Fregoe (12 & 13), RW Jon DiSalvatore (7 & 18), LW Devin Rask (9 & 10), C Chris Chaput (1 & 11), LW Peter Zingoni (9 & 2), D Stephen Wood (2 & 9), G Nolan Schaefer (4-4, 3.34, .892)

Outlook: Providence has played only once since November, a 2-1 overtime loss at Merrimack on Dec. 5. The Friars will be rested and healthy but might be a little rusty in the early stages of the game. After a school-record 7-0 start, the Friars entered the break on a 2-6-1 decline in which they averaged just 1.78 goals per game. Maine will be without leading goal scorer Colin Shields (rib injury), while several other regulars have nagging ailments but are expected to play. Fregoe, DiSalvatore, and Rask are three of the best forwards in Hockey East and are often linemates. Maine’s speed up front should cause some problems for a Friar defense corps that has only one senior. Kariya figured in seven of Maine’s nine goals in three games against PC a year ago with four goals and three assists. He had four goals and an assist in the 5-4 win in Orono. PC is 7-1-1 at home. Maine is unbeaten in its last 16 (14-0-2).