The University of Maine has had more than its share of blue-chip goaltenders.

Four have played in the National Hockey League including current NHLers Garth Snow (New York Islanders) and Mike Dunham (New York Rangers).

But senior Frank Doyle holds the school’s single-season record for shutouts with four this season and he will look to extend his scoreless streak, currently at 159 minutes, 4 seconds, when the Bears visit Boston University for a Friday-Saturday Hockey East series.

He will split the goaltending chores with Jimmy Howard, who returned last weekend after missing five weeks with a knee injury.

Howard has shutout sequence record (193:45) which he set last year.

“I’m not really thinking about it [record]. I don’t want to focus on that because that’s all you’d be thinking about,” said Doyle. “We just want to go in there and try to get two wins. We need to work really hard and continue to improve as we move toward the playoffs.”

Doyle will enter the weekend with the nation’s lowest goals-against average at 1.53. He also has a .930 save percentage and an 11-3 record.

His six career shutouts have tied Alfie Michaud’s mark.

It didn’t appear he would be putting up these kinds of numbers on Nov. 8 when he allowed six goals on just 26 shots in a 6-3 loss at New Hampshire.

But there was a silver lining.

“I was sitting back in my net too much on a lot of those goals,” said Doyle. “That made me work really hard on the things I needed to do to get better. Obviously, the result wasn’t good for the team but for me personally, it was really helpful.”

The 6-foot-1, 181-pound Guelph, Ontario, native has allowed just 11 goals in the nine games since then, stopping 175 of 186 shots.

“It’s been nice. The guys have made it really easy for me. I’m seeing the puck real well right now,” said Doyle.

“I’ve tried to make sure I’ve been out of my net, cutting down the angle and letting the puck hit me. That’s what I’m trying to focus on every day: coming out and really challenging the puck,” added Doyle.

“Frank is the most focused and disciplined guy on our team, by far, in the way he prepares himself. I’m not surprised by the way he’s playing,” said sophomore defenseman and assistant captain Jeff Mushaluk.

“He’s playing unbelievable right now,” said sophomore center Derek Damon.

“He has been very steady,” said Maine coach Tim Whitehead. “He makes it look easy. Then when you watch the videotape, you realize he made a lot of great saves. Because of the way he positions himself, there aren’t a lot of opportunities for the shooters. He’s very composed and very disciplined with his movements.”

Doyle feels the biggest improvement in his game has been his skating.

“I’m moving a lot better. I feel quicker on my skates,” said Doyle, who credited assistant coach Grant Standbrook with supplying the goalies with at lease one valuable tip every day.

Doyle also noted that any time a goalie has a scoreless streak, good fortune is involved.

“The bounces have gone my way,” said Doyle.