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The fourth-ranked University of Maine men’s ice hockey team has probably its most important weekend series of the season so far, when the Black Bears renew the “Border War” with the eighth-ranked New Hampshire Wildcats on Friday and Saturday.
“Both teams are shooting to sweep this weekend,” UMaine coach Tim Whitehead said. “That’s a hard thing to do in this league. Our objective is going to be to win both games. We want to come out with energy and intensity the first night and if we are fortunate enough to win, we want to take care of business the second night.”
Over the last two weekends of Hockey East play, the Black Bears have won the Friday night game convincingly, but have lost by 1-0 scores on the last two Saturdays to Massachusetts at home and at Boston University, respectively.
Last Friday’s win over BU was a big 8-4 win, with three shorthanded goals scored by UMaine, two of them on a single penalty kill in the first period.
“It’s a rare thing,” Whitehead said of the three shorthanded goals. “I don’t remember the last time I’ve seen three in a game.”
UMaine may have been scoring goals while shorthanded in the game, but the one major area where scoring is lacking currently is the power play. UMaine was held without a power play goal against BU, while the Terrier’s win on Saturday came with the man-advantage. UMass’ s lone goal in its 1-0 win was also on the power play.
“Our power play has to improve if we are going to win some of these tight games,” Whitehead said. “There have been times when our power play has been effective and helped us win games on a few occasions, but we need to be more consistent.”
UMaine’s power play has converted just 18 of 118 opportunities for a dismal 15.8% conversion rate. By contrast, UNH’s power play is tops in the conference, converting 22.8% of the time. The two team’s penalty kill statistics are very close with UMaine ranked third at 85.2 percent and UNH in fourth killing off 83.7 percent of opponents’ power plays.
“Special teams are always very important,” Whitehead said. “I think these both will be very low scoring games, so it will probably make the difference in the games.”
It will also be a matchup between the best offense in Hockey East against the best defense. UNH has the best scoring offense amongst Hockey East teams, scoring 3.92 goals per game (UMaine is No. 2 at 3.67), while the Black Bears lead the league in goals against per game with just 1.71 (UNH is third at 2.48).
There will be plenty of important players in these games, as both of the Hockey East Co-Players of the Week will be on display.
UMaine’s Colin Shields shared last week’s honor with UNH senior forward Steve Saviano. Shields scored a hat trick, including two-shorthanded goals, and had two assists in Friday’s 8-4 win over BU. Shields now has 13 goals and 13 assists for 26 points to lead UMaine in scoring. Saviano had a four-goal, one assist night Friday as UNH defeated Merrimack 9-1 on the road. In their last outing Saviano has 20 goals and 14 assists for 34 points on the year. Saviano is tied for second in the nation in goals.
UMaine’s freshman forward Michel Leveille was also named the Hockey East Rookie of the Week for the second time this month. Leveille had a goal and three assists to improve his season total to three goals and 22 assists for 25 points. Leveille is tied for second in the country in assists, only trailing UNH’s Justin Aikens (six goals, 24 assists, 30 points).
Other key forwards for UNH include juniors Sean Collins (11-16-27) and Prestin Callander (12-10-22).
Another match-up to watch will be the defense. UNH is led by sophomore Brian Yandle (10-12-22). Yandle has been deadly for UNH’s power play, scoring six times. He scored two against UMaine in UNH’s 6-3 win at the Whittemore Center on Nov. 8, the only meeting between the two teams thus far. The Wildcats’ other key defenseman is junior Tyson Teplitsky (0-10-10).
UMaine will try to match the scoring from the blueline with senior Prestin Ryan (3-9-12), junior Troy Barnes (2-9-11), and freshman Mike Lundin (2-9-11).
The biggest match-up will be in net. UNH returns All-American senior Mike Ayers. He struggled through December, but has only given up one goal in his last three starts, all wins for the ‘Cats, who have won their last four. Ayers is 12-7-2 for the year with a 2.52 GAA, a .911 save percentage, and four shutouts.
UMaine will counter with the “Two-Headed Monster” of Jimmy Howard and Frank Doyle, ranked first and third, respectively, among NCAA Division I goalies. Howard is 5-3-1 with a 1.55 GAA, a .936 save percentage, and one shutout. Doyle has a record of 12-3-0, a 1.70 GAA, a .926 save percentage, and four shutouts.
Friday night’s game will be televised to a national audience by College Sports Television (CSTV). It will mark the first hockey game at Alfond to be broadcast nationally. Thundersticks will be given out to all fans that night before the game.
Whitehead believes the atmosphere will be second-to-none on the weekend.
“It’s going to be awesome,” Whitehead said. “Nothing beats the Alfond. I can’t wait to hear how loud the building will be with the thundersticks. It will be one of those electric evenings.”
Friday’s game gets underway at 8 p.m., while the start-time will be 7 p.m. on Saturday.
Bangor Daily News