ORONO - There's a reason Boston University is the No. 1 team in college hockey.

There are a few reasons, actually. Maine knows about a few of those reasons, and recited them two days before the Black Bears open a two-game series against the Terriers at Alfond Arena.

"They have offensive threats on every line," Maine goalie Scott Darling said. "There's no one player you can focus on."

The Terriers (22-5-1, 13-5-1 Hockey East) lead the league in scoring (3.82 goals a game), in defense (1.96 goals a game), power play (24.4 percent, 39 for 160)

"They're really talented at all three positions," Maine Coach Tim Whitehead said. "They have two strong goalies (Kieran Millan and Grant Rollheiser) and a great defensive corps. They have a lot of weapons up front. As a whole they have good team speed and skill, have five or six seniors who are solid contributors and have good balance in all classes."

Would it be amiss to tag BU the 31st NHL team? After all, 13 of BU's 27 players have their rights held by NHL teams - including senior forward Colin Wilson (Nashville), whose father, Carey, played in the NHL for 10 seasons.

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Gustav Nyquist's status for this weekend remains uncertain. Nyquist, a freshman forward and Maine's leading scorer (nine goals, 11 assists) suffered a neck injury in Friday's 4-1 loss at No. 12 New Hampshire and as of Wednesday, had not been cleared to to play this weekend against BU.

Nyquist practiced Wednesday at Alfond Arena but was wearing an orange jersey - donned by injured players.

Sophomore forward Keif Orsini was scratched from last weekend's series, hampered by both an illness and a concussion.

Defenseman Simon Danis-Pepin, who missed three games earlier this season after spraining his left ankle, is still suffering the after-effects of what Whitehead called a "lower body injury."

Will O'Neill will continue to play at forward for this weekend's series.

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