Feb. 14, 2008

Listen | Gametracker - (Fri.)  (Sat.) | Game Notes

BOSTON - Looking to secure its first three-game win streak of the season, the Boston University men's ice hockey team (10-14-4, 8-8-3 Hockey East) will play host to Maine (8-15-3, 4-12-3 HE) for a two-game weekend set at Agganis Arena. Friday's game, which will be broadcast by NESN, will begin at 7:30 p.m., while Saturday's 7 p.m. tilt will be broadcast live by CN8. Last month, the Terriers opened their season series with the Black Bears by posting a 3-1 road victory.

The Terriers and Black Bears have played 97 times since the 1923-24 season, and BU holds a 46-42-9 edge (.521). The Terriers are on a seven-game unbeaten streak (6-0-1) against Maine -- their longest in the series in over 20 years -- and are undefeated in the teams' three meetings at Agganis Arena (2-0-1).

Maine has dropped its past five games as part of a six-game winless streak and sits in ninth place in the Hockey East standings, four points out of the eighth and final playoff spot. The Black Bears most recently were swept at home by New Hampshire by scores of 3-2 and 4-1.

Senior defensman Bret Tyler has a team-best 17 points (6g, 11a) this season, while classmates Wes Clark (6g, 10a) and Rob Bellamy (4g, 10a) are right behind with 16 and 14 points, respectively. Junior goaltender Ben Bishop has appeared in all 26 games, making 25 starts, and has posted a 2.71 goals against average and a .911 save percentage.

Maine's penalty kill has been a bright spot, as opponents have combined for just three power-play goals since the beginning of December. The unit ranks tied for 15th in the nation, operating at 86.7 percent. The Black Bears' power play, which was tops in Division I a year ago, is ranked third-to-last in the country at 10 percent (12-of-120).

Senior Pete MacArthur has been very successful against Maine during his career, tallying 14 points (5g, 9a) in 10 games. Last season, MacArthur earned the lone hat trick of his career in a 6-5 win over the Black Bears on Jan. 12. Classmate Bryan Ewing has four goals and four assists in eight contests versus Maine, while junior Brandon Yip has six assists in six games.

Ewing and freshmen Kevin Shattenkirk and Colin Wilson each tallied a goal and an assist, helping BU post a 3-1 road victory over Maine on Jan. 12 at Alfond Arena. MacArthur assisted on all three tallies for BU, which extended its win streak in Alfond Arena to four games. Shattenkirk broke a 1-1 tie midway through the second period and Wilson tacked on a late insurance goal for the Terriers, who held a 30-16 shot advantage.

The Terriers are coming off a 5-4 come-from-behind victory over No. 15 Northeastern in the Beanpot consolation game on Monday. Wilson broke a 4-4 tie with 3 minutes, 19 seconds left in regulation by potting his second goal of the night. The tally capped a string of three straight goals by the Terriers, who trailed, 4-2, midway through the game.

Over the past six games, the Terriers' top four point scorers have been freshmen as Wilson (5g, 5a), Shattenkirk (1g, 7a), Colby Cohen (2g, 4a) and Nick Bonino (4g, 1a) have combined to earn 29 points (12g, 17a) during the stretch. Add in classmate Joe Pereira's goal against UNH on Jan. 26 and the class has averaged five points per game over the last six contests.

In its 28 games this season, BU has combined to score 37 second-period goals. This comes after recording only 30 tallies all of last season in the middle stanza (39 games).