UConn men’s hockey to play Maine this weekend

UConn men’s hockey is set for a two-game series with the Maine Black Bears this weekend on Friday, Feb. 26, and Saturday, Feb. 27, Hockey East announced Tuesday. Instead of a typical home-and-home series, both games will be played at Freitas Ice Forum with a 4:00 p.m. puck drop. Saturday’s game will be broadcast on CW20.

Maine is one of two teams that the Huskies have not faced this year, along with Vermont. The Black Bears have played the entire season on the road due to COVID regulations in their home state. They sit in ninth place in Hockey East with a 2-9-1 record. Maine took wins against Providence and Vermont but enter this weekend on a five-game losing streak.

Just two weekends remain in the regular season, including this one. UConn (8-9-2) has lost its last three games and is barely holding onto fourth place in the Hockey East Power Index, which determines the standings this year. The top five teams will receive a bye into the quarterfinals of the conference tournament, while the top four are guaranteed home ice.

Providence, just behind the Huskies in fifth place, will play second-place UMass on Tuesday before facing sixth-place Northeastern on Saturday and Sunday.