The #19 University of Maine men’s hockey team is set to open up conference play this weekend, as they travel to Agganis Arena to renew their rivalry with two games at #14 Boston University.
Both teams are 4-2, with the Black Bears sweeping a non-conference series at home over Colgate, and the Terriers splitting a home and home with UConn in Hockey East games on Thursday and Saturday. BU has played four conference games already (2-2). Maine, who is visiting Agganis Arena on Halloween weekend is fitting, as it has really been a house of horrors with their last win there coming on November 17th, 2018 by a 3-1 score. The Black Bears are 0-8 since.
Both teams are fairly equal in goals per game (BU 3.2, Maine 3.0). The Terriers have given up an average of 2.0 goals per contest, while the Black Bears have given up 1.5. The special teams will be a huge key to the series. BU is only 2-20 (10%) on the powerplay, while Maine has gotten off to a good start in that area at 7-26 (26.9%). The Black Bears have only given up one powerplay goal (1-19), while the Terriers have allowed three (3-19). Forwards Lee Parks (5 goals, 1 assist), Tanner Klimpke (3 goals, 3 assists), and Max Scott (6 assists) are the leading point getters so far for Maine with six each. Defensemen Isa Parekh (2 goals, 3 assists) and Lukas Peterson (5 assists) are off to a good start at the blue line and have tallied five points a piece. Parks, the UMass-Lowell transfer, has scored a goal five straight games. Senior goaltender Albin Boija has played four of the six games in net and has a 3-1 record, with a 1.52 goals against average, a .926 save percentage, and one shutout. Canisius transfer Petter Wickström Stumer has played the other two, including picking up his first career Alfond Arena win and second career shutout last Friday night. Wickström Stumer is 1-1 with a 1.48 GAA and a save percentage of .940. Tynan Lawrence is the leader for Boston University with seven points (4 goals, 3 assists), while netminder Mikhail Yegorov had played all six games and owns a 1.99 GAA and a save percentage of .924. Yegerov has allowed three or more goals in his last two outings vs UConn (5-4 loss, 6-3 win).
Game one of the series is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday, while Saturdays game two will faceoff at 6 p.m. Both contests can be seen live on ESPN+. Fridays game can also be viewed on NESN.
