Back to the Hockey East schedule. Maine (10-6-2, 5-4-1 Hockey East) starts the New Year today against New Hampshire, one of its traditional rivals and a team that is looking to rebound after nearly four weeks off and after a November with one win. The No. 14 Wildcats (8-6-3, 5-4-2 Hockey East) closed the year with three wins against UMass-Lowell and Holy Cross, while Maine is playing its fourth game in two weeks.

Lineup for Maine:
* = starters
Forward
Robby Dee-Chris Hahn-Lem Randall
Brian Flynn-Tanner House-Gustav Nyquist*
Spencer Abbott-Kyle Solomon-Jeff Marshall
Nick Payson-Kevin Swallow-Brett Carriere

Defense
Josh Van Dyk-Matt Duffy*
Ryan Hegarty-Mike Banwell
Will O'Neill-Jeff Dimmen

Goalies
Dave Wilson-Scott Darling*-Josh Seeley

Lineup for New Hampshire:
Forwards
Jerry Pollastrone-Phill DeSimone-Mike Sislo*
Greg Collins-Peter LeBlanc-Bobby Butler
Danny Dries-Thomas Fortney-Steve Moses
Alan Thompson-Mike Borisenok-Kevin McCarey

Defense
Kevin Kapstad-Mike Beck
Nick Krates-Damon Kipp
Jamie Fritsch-Joe Charlebois*

Goalies
Brian Foster*-Matt DiGirolamo

Of note: Payson scored a goal in a 7-3 exhibition win over the U.S. U-18 team Friday night, and plays in his first game since Nov. 15, a 3-0 win at Providence. The Black Bears will go back to using six defensemen after using eight Friday. The Wildcats will be without forward James van Riemsdyk and defenseman Blake Kessel, who are playing for Team USA in the World Junior Championships in Ottawa. Foster, UNH's goalie, has been nursing an ankle injury.

Scratches for Maine:
Defense: Simon Danis-Pepin (sprained ankle), Mark Nemec
Forward: Theo Andersson, Glenn Belmore, Keif Orsini, David de Kastrozza.

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