Maine at St. Lawrence

Time, site: Friday, Saturday, 7 p.m.; Appleton Arena, Canton, N.Y.

Team records: Maine 3-0, St. Lawrence 1-2-2

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 7-3; Maine 8-2 on 10/21/00

Players to watch: Maine – LW Todd Jackson (4 goals, 1 assist), C Michel Leveille (0 & 5), RW Greg Moore (1 & 3), RW Colin Shields (3 & 0), D Prestin Ryan (1 & 2), G Jimmy Howard (1-0, 0.00 GAA, 1.000 save percentage), G Frank Doyle (2-0, 1.00 GAA, .957); St. Lawrence – C Rich Peverley (2 & 3), RW John Zeiler (1 & 4), D Drew Bagnall (1 & 4), LW T.J. Trevelyan (2 & 2), C Max Taylor (1 & 1), G Kevin Ackley (1-2-2, 2.70, .916), G Mike McKenna (0-0, 3.00, .857)

Outlook: The fifth-ranked Bears will try to capitalize on their speed by creating a fast tempo. That also can lead to St. Lawrence turnovers and transition opportunities. The Saints probably will be without captain Josh Anderson (shoulder) and Ackley is questionable with a broken finger on his blocker hand. The Saints have done a decent job defensively, allowing only 2.8 goals per game, but they have had problems scoring, averaging 1.8 gpg. The speedy line of Trevelyan-Peverley-Zeiler is their best and has played together for 13 consecutive games. The line of Derek Damon between Jackson and Moore has been Maine’s most productive. St. Lawrence is looking to improve upon consecutive 11-win seasons. It will be a homecoming for Howard, who grew up 18 miles away in Ogdensburg, N.Y. Maine has won the last five meetings between the teams.