Pregame Notes: BU at Maine

By Chris Aliano

Game #7
Boston University (2-4-0, 1-3-0 HEA) vs. Maine (2-5-0, 1-2-0 HEA)
Sunday Nov. 8, 2009
4:00 p.m.  - Alfond Arena - Orono, Maine
Starting Lineups

BU
Forwards
Zach Cohen-Luke Popko-Joe Pereira
Andrew Glass-Corey Trivino-Alex Chiasson
Chris Connolly-Wade Megan-Vinny Saponari
Justin Courtnall-Ross Gaudet-Kevin Gilroy

Defense
Colby Cohen-Kevin Shattenkirk
David Warsofsky-Eric Gryba
Sean Escobedo-Max Nicastro

Goaltenders
Kieran Millan-Adam Kraus

Maine
Forwards

Spencer Abbott-Tanner House-Gustav Nyquist Brian Flynn-Robby Dee-Kevin Swallow Adam Shemansky-David DeKastrozza-Matt Mangene Theo Andersson-Klas Leidermark-Joey Diamond Defense Will O'Neill-Jeff Dimmen Ryan Hegarty-Josh Van Dyk Mike Banwell-Mike Cornell Goaltenders Scott Darling-Shawn Sirman

Know Your Enemy: The Black Bears

• The Terriers and Black Bears have played 105 times since first meeting in the 1923-24 season, and BU holds a 52-43-10 edge (.543).
• After opening its season with three straight losses, Maine is 2-2 in its last four contests and most recently posted a 4-1 home victory over Vermont on Oct. 30. The Black Bears’ other win came against Michigan State.
• Sophomore Gustav Nyquist, who led Maine in scoring as a rookie last season with 32 points, is off to a strong start this year with 11 points (4g, 7a). Freshman Adam Shemansky has impressed early with seven points, including a team-high five goals.
  
• Three goaltenders have earned at least one start for Maine this season with sophomore Scott Darling posting both wins and posting an .887 save percentage and a 3.31 goals-against average in four starts.
• Thirteen of Maine’s 21 goals this season have come with a man advantage, as its power play ranks fifth in the country at a 27.7-percent success rate (13-of-47).

BU NOTES

• BU posted two wins and a tie against Maine last year during the teams’ regular-season series before meeting the Black Bears in the Hockey East quarterfinals, where the Terriers advanced in three games.
• Behind two goals from Chris Connolly, BU posted a 4-1 win over Maine on Jan. 10 at Agganis Arena before heading up to Orono for two games on Feb. 13-14. Colin Wilson’s hat trick led the Terriers to a 7-2 victory the first night before the teams battled to a 2-2 draw on Valentine’s Day.
• BU used a late goal from Colby Cohen to record a 2-1 victory in the first game of the quarterfinal series, but the Black Bears forced a decisive third game with a 6-3 win the next night, as the visitors scored the game’s last five goals. The Terriers advanced to the semifinals for the eighth straight season with a 6-2 win in game three.  Maine's win in the middle game of the series ended BU's 13-game unbeaten streak (11-0-2) against the Black Bears.
• BU is 19-21-5 in the 45 match-ups that have taken place at Alfond Arena and is undefeated in its last six games (5-0-1) in Orono.