ORONO, Maine – The #7 University of Maine men's ice hockey team will face #2 Boston University in the Hockey East Tournament semifinal round on Friday, March 22 at TD Garden in Boston.
 
The single elimination game between the third-seeded Black Bears and second-seeded Terriers is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. puck drop. The winner will advance to Saturday night's 7:30 p.m. championship game to face the winner of the Boston College-UMass matchup.
 
The semifinals will air live on NESN along with ESPN+ and an international stream available via Hockey East/Stretch Internet. The game can also be listened to via 92.9 FM in eastern Maine, 100.5 FM in southern Maine or online at GoBlackBears.com/MIHRadio.
 
GAME 36 | #7 Maine vs #2 Boston University
Friday, March 22, 2024 | 7:30 P.M.
TD Garden | Boston
Hockey East Tournament Semifinal
 
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
• Third-seeded University of Maine will face second-seeded Boston University in the Hockey East Tournament semifinal on Friday night at TD Garden.
• Maine is making its first semifinal appearance since the 2011-12 season (also the last time Maine played in the title game).
• The Black Bears advanced with a 5-0 win over sixth-seed New Hampshire on Saturday night while the Terriers defeated seventh-seed Northeastern, 4-2.
• Boston University is the Hockey East Tournament defending champion.
 
A WIN ON FRIDAY WOULD...
• Advance the Black Bears to the program's first Hockey East Tournament championship game since 2011-12.
• Move Maine to 58-47 all-time in the Hockey East tournament and 9-7 against Boston University.
• Bump Maine to 24-10-2 on the year for the most wins in a season since 2005-06.
• Snap a five-game losing streak against the Terriers.
 
ABOUT MAINE
• The Black Bears sit at 23-10-2 overall ... the team went 14-9-1 in Hockey East play in the 2023-24 regular season.
• Bradly Nadeau (19-26-45) and Josh Nadeau (18-27-45) are tied for the team lead in points … seven players have at least 20 points for the Black Bears … through 35 games, Maine has 23 different point getters and 20 different goal scorers ... seven Black Bears have at least 20 points each and it is the first time Maine has at least seven players with 20 points since 2017-18.
• In goal, Albin Boija is 10-5-1 with a 1.94 goals against average, .921 save percentage and two shutouts ... Victor Ostman is 13-5-1 with a 2.79 goals against average and .894 save percentage.
• Maine is averaging 62.14 shots per game, second most in Hockey East behind Providence (62.66) ... the Black Bears are second in Hockey East with a 52.0 face-off winning percentage. 
• Eighteen of Maine's 35 games have been against ranked opponents, with the Black Bears going 11-6-1 in those games for the most ranked wins since 2003-04 (12).
• The Black Bears have been ranked for 19 consecutive weeks for the first time since the 2010-11 season.

ABOUT BOSTON UNIVERSITY
• The Terriers bring an overall record of 25-8-2 into the semifinal ... BU went 18-4-2 in Hockey East play this season.
• Macklin Celebrini leads BU and sits third in the country with 55 points on 30 goals and 25 assists ... the Terriers have five players with at least 31 points each.
• In goal, Mathieu Caron is 25-8-2 with a 2.29 goals against average, .917 save percentage and two shutouts.
• At 27.9 percent, the Terriers boast the second-best power play unit in the country.

SERIES HISTORY vs BOSTON UNIVERSITY
• Maine holds an all-time record of 56-75-14 in the series with Boston University ... the Black Bears are 8-7 all-time against the Terriers in the Hockey East Tournament, including a mark of 6-0 in the semifinal.
• The teams met twice during the 2023-24 regular season, with Maine dropping 3-2 and 5-4 contests at Agganis Arena back in November.
• Last season, BU swept the season series by winning two games at Agganis Arena and one game at Alfond Arena.
• Seventeen current Black Bears have at least one career point against the Terriers ... Lynden Breen (4-6-10) is Maine's active leading scorer against BU ... Ben Poisson (5-3-8), Donavan Villeneuve-Houle (1-5-6), Nolan Renwick (3-2-5) and Thomas Freel (2-3-5) each have at least five points against the Terriers.
• The Black Bears won the first-ever meeting in the series with the Terriers, picking up a 4-2 home win back in 1924.
• Maine held an 11-game winning streak against the Terriers from Oct. 31, 1986 to Nov. 10, 1989.
 
MAINE IN THE HOCKEY EAST TOURNAMENT
• Maine is playing in its 37th Hockey East Tournament this season ... that ties with New Hampshire for the third-most appearances in league history behind Boston College (39) and Boston University (39).
• The Black Bears have won five titles, third most all-time behind BC (11) and BU (10).
• Maine is 57-47 all-time in the Hockey East Tournament ... the Black Bears hold a record of 15-5 in the semifinal round, including a mark of 6-0 against Boston University.
• The Black Bears are 8-7 all-time against BU in the conference tournament, with a mark of 6-0 in the semifinal round and 6-1 in neutral site meetings.
• Maine appeared in its first title game in 1987 and went on to appear in seven consecutive championship games.
 
SEARCHING FOR THE SIXTH
• Maine is in search of its sixth Hockey East Tournament title.
• The Black Bears have not advanced to the championship round since 2012 ... this season marks the first trip to TD Garden for Maine since that 2011-12 season.
• Maine won its first-ever championship in 1989 when it defeated Boston College, 5-4, in a title game held at Boston College.
• The Black Bears five titles are third most all-time behind BC (11) and BU (10).