Here is my Weekly Game Preview for Maine this weekend.  The preview of all the
Hockey East games can be found in U.S. College Hockey Online's features
section at http://www.uscollegehockey.com
 
Providence (8-12-1, 6-6-1 HE) at Maine (13-9-1, 5-6-1 HE)
Friday and Saturday, 7 p.m., Alfond Arena, Orono, ME
 
Providence ended a seven-game losing streak with wins over
Northeastern, 5-4, and UMass-Amherst, 5-1.
 
"We're playing together as a team, that's number one," said PC coach
Paul Pooley, reflecting on the differences between his team's play now
and during the slump. "But we're also working harder. We're working
harder in practices and we're working harder in games. We're being
more physical and we're being rewarded for that.
 
"Dan [Dennis] played well against both Northeastern and UMass.
When Danny plays well, the team gets more relaxed. It frees them up
mentally to score goals." Dennis was named Hockey East Player of the
Week for his efforts. Pooley has played the senior netminder a lot
recently, to get him going for the stretch run.
 
"He was inconsistent for the first half of the year and he'd be the first to
admit that," said Pooley. "It's important for us to get him sharp."
 
Pooley will not hesitate to use Dennis in all three Friar games this week,
if that will give the team the best chance to win. "Right now our hockey
team and how it's playing is more important than getting anyone ice
time."
 
Pooley made two significant lineup changes before last week's wins.
Freshman defenseman Jason Ialongo and sophomore forward Mike
Omicioli did not dress. John Tuohy, a junior, replaced Ialongo in an
effort to get more experience on the blue line. Josh MacNevin and
Leigh Dean, the two remaining freshman blueliners, have played well,
according to Pooley. Ialongo is likely to return to action this week, since
sophomore Ben Stadey injured an ankle in the UMass-Amherst game
and is expected out for two to three weeks.
 
"Michael [Omicioli] has played well at times," said Pooley about his
other benching. "With him we want him to become more consistent. He
can be a great player for us if he continues to work hard and pay the
price. Right now our lineup looks pretty solid because everyone is
working hard."
 
Pooley looked ahead to the Maine matchup and two games at Alfond
Arena.
 
"Doing the little things will be important against Maine. You've got to
know what they're doing on the faceoffs. You've got to know what they're
doing on the power play. Then you've got to be ready to execute.
 
"It is a tough place to play, but it's a challenge too. I think we play well
on the road. I think we like the hostile environment. It pulls us together."
 
Maine split with Merrimack while playing its fifth and sixth straight
games on the road, losing 3-1 and then winning 6-2.
 
"Friday night we were off," said Maine coach Shawn Walsh. "We didn't
really execute with the same kind of intensity that I've seen us have in
previous games. Part of that is because Merrimack and Martin Legault
played very, very well. But we didn't generate much offense to make life
difficult for him. Saturday night we played much more aggressively
around the net. We were just a more hungry team and without question
put together our best 60 minutes since I've been back."
 
Marcus Gustafsson has opened eyes, scoring like an all-league
player since being inserted into the lineup eight games ago. "He's been
a real key for us," said Walsh. "He's played eight straight games now
and has 15 points in those games. He's given us a big boost and given
us a second scoring line with Roenick and Cardinal. He's just got a
knack for making the right play at the right time offensively. He's a very
intelligent player and he's got a scoring, sniping shot."
 
Also helping to turn around an offense that had stagnated earlier in the
year is a more active defense. "We've encouraged that," said Walsh.
"We've got some natural offensive defensemen and there's no sense
holding them back. I've been happy with the way we've generated some
offense from the blue line. It's always been something that I've dwelled
on. I think it makes you a more diversified offensive team."
 
The goaltending tandem of Alfie Michaud and Javier Gorriti has
stabilized after causing much concern earlier in the year.
 
"They've both been consistent for us," said Walsh. "In our six-game
road spell we lost one game in overtime, 4-3, and lost the other one
3-1. So you can't fault the goaltenders for those games and we won the
other four. So we're playing better as a team, they're playing more
consistently, and I think that alternating them has taken the pressure
off."
 
Maine now faces Providence, a team directly in its upward path in the
standings. Two weeks ago, the two teams met at Schneider Arena.
Maine jumped out to a seemingly safe 5-0 lead before the Friars
battled back with four third-period goals to make a game of it.
 
"You've got to be patient when you play them," said Walsh. "They play
a methodical trap and a conservative game. Typically it's a low-scoring
game. They've got a good goaltender in Danny Dennis. They seem to
have righted their ship since the last time we played them with two good
wins this weekend. So I think we'll see a rejuvenated Providence team
and it should be a terrific Hockey East series."
 
PICKS:Maine wins on Friday, 5-3. Providence gets the split on
Saturday, 4-3.
 
-----------------------------------------------
Dave Hendrickson   [log in to unmask]
Hockey East writer for US College Hockey Online
        http://www.uscollegehockey.com