LOWELL, Mass. - Finally, it's the regular-season finale, and tonight at Tsongas Arena, the University of Maine men's ice hockey team hopes to end the season and go into the playoffs on a winning note. The Black Bears are 0-6-1 in their last seven games, and gave up four power-play goals to UMass-Lowell last night in a 5-3 loss.

Two of those goals came in a 5-on-3 situation with Chris Hahn and Lem Randall penalized, and Randall's penalty, a slashing call at 12:58 of the second, allowed the River Hawks to rally for a 4-3 lead in the next two minutes. Furthermore, the Black Bears' power play - which has produced nearly half of the team's offense this season - was unable to capitalize on a 5-on-3 situation earlier in the second period of last night's loss.

Looking at the lineups, Randall is a healthy scratch for tonight's game, as are his linemates from last night, captain Jeff Marshall and junior Brett Carriere. Their replacements on tonight's fourth liners, Nick Payson, Glenn Belmore and David de Kastrozza.

Payson is playing for the first time since Feb. 24, after being suspended for three games and then a healthy scratch for the last two. This is Belmore's first game since Feb. 6, while de Kastrozza plays for the first time since Feb. 20.

Starters
Maine
Forwards
Brian Flynn-Tanner House-Gustav Nyquist
Robby Dee-Chris Hahn-Kevin Swallow
Theo Andersson-Keif Orsini-Spencer Abbott
Nick Payson-Glenn Belmore-David de Kastrozza

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

Goalies
Scott Darling
Josh Seeley

UMass-Lowell
Forwards
Michael Scheu-Ben Holmstrom-Paul Worthington
Mark Roebothan-Scott Campbell-Mike Potacco
Michael Budd-David Vallorani-Jonathan Maniff
Kory Falite-Nick Monroe-Patrick Cey

Defense
Jeremy Dehner-Nick Schaus
Ryan Blair-Maury Edwards
Steve Capraro-Barry Goers

Goalies
Nevin Hamilton
Carter Hutton

Scratches for Maine: Goalie-Dave Wilson (groin), Defense - Ryan Hegarty (fractured vertebra); Forward - Kyle Solomon (ACL sprain), Brett Carriere, Jeff Marshall, Lem Randall.

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The Hockey News published its "Future Watch" issue this week and among THN's top 50 drafted prospects are three Hockey East players - BU's Colin Wilson (No. 4, Nashville) and Kevin Shattenkirk (No. 29, Colorado) and UNH's James van Riemsdyk (No. 6, Philadelphia).

THN put former Maine goalie Jimmy Howard is among the Detroit Red Wings' top 10 prospects (seventh) but said of the goalie's situation:

Wings are out of options for him; either play him next year or let him go.

Howard is 13-10-3 with a .914 saves percentage and a 2.39 goals-against average with Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League.

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