ORONO - If you want any more of a sense of a playoff hockey vibe, just look at Simon Danis-Pepin.

Maine's senior defenseman was sporting a new look earlier this week - some whiskers, to be precise. It's traditionally a rite of spring in the NHL to sport the playoff beard, but right now it's a turning into a rite of late February for the Black Bears, who are in eighth place entering tonight's game against Vermont.

Yep, it's a playoff race.

With 17 points, Maine is only four points ahead of ninth-place Providence and four points behind Boston College and Massachusetts (both tied for sixth), entering tonight's games, with four games left in the season. That's enough hockey for any team to solidify playoff positioning. Which is what Vermont is trying to do in their final four games, but for a different purpose - the Catamounts, a top-10 team, are vying for home ice. Maine is just trying to stay in the top eight.

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With Ryan Hegarty out for the remainder of the season, Will O'Neill has been moved back to defense, where he is paired with Matt Duffy for tonight's game. Centering Maine's third line is Keif Orsini.

Starters:
MAINE
Forward
Brian Flynn-Tanner House-Gustav Nyquist
Robby Dee-Chris Hahn-Kevin Swallow
Theo Andersson-Keif Orsini-Spencer Abbott
Lem Randall-Brett Carriere-Jeff Marshall

Defense
Will O'Neill-Matt Duffy
Josh Van Dyk-Simon Danis-Pepin
Mike Banwell-Jeff Dimmen

Goalies
Dave Wilson
Scott Darling
Josh Seeley

Scratches for Maine: Defense: Ryan Hegarty (fractured vertebra); Forward: Kyle Solomon (ACL sprain), Nick Payson (suspension), Glenn Belmore, David de Kastrozza.

VERMONT
Forwards
Viktor Stalberg-Brian Roloff-Wahsontiio Stacey
Colin Vock-Brayden Irwin-Corey Carlson
Justin Milo-Dean Strong-Peter Lenes
Jack Downing-Jonathan Higgins-Chris Atkinson

Defense
Patrick Cullity-Kevan Miller
Kyle Medvec-Josh Burrows
Dan Lawson-Lance Herrington

Goalies
Rob Madore
Mike Spillane
John Vazzano

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Just a couple cosmetic things I noticed. First, the student section is a bit sparse, as it's the start of spring break at Maine. Second, I noticed that Vermont goalie Rob Madore is wearing yellow pads, a yellow blocker and a yellow glove. Very Marc-Andre Fleury ... the Pittsburgh Penguins goalie who ditched the equipment last season, at the advice of an Ottawa optometrist. Yellow, the doctor explained, is a color easily distinguished by the human eye. Translation: With sun-colored pads, Fleury was too much of a target for opposing shooters.

Think about it. Don't you almost instinctively slow down whenever you see a school bus?

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