Time is ticking away on the Maine hockey team after dropping a pair of games to New Hampshire this weekend - 3-2 and 4-1 - at Alfond Arena.

Maine still sits in ninth place in the Hockey East standings, four points out of the eighth and final playoff spot. Massachusetts occupies the No. 8 spot.

A saving grace, right now anyway, is that Maine plays Massachusetts twice at home later this month. Those games will at least afford Maine the chance to get four points from the Minutemen.

Right now, though, Maine has struggled to beat anyone in Hockey East.

The team has beaten just four league opponents all season, and only two since sweeping a pair from Northeastern in late October.

Here's a few encouraging words that New Hampshire Coach Dick Umile shared after Saturday's game. (The win did finish the first ever season sweep UNH has had over Maine in Hockey East history).

"I tell ya what, for a team that doesn't have a lot of wins they're a good team," said Umile. "Anytime you can get two games on Maine in Orono. . .Obviously we're thrilled with the weekend."

Up next for Maine:
Feb. 15, 16: Two games at Boston University
Feb. 23, 24: Hosts two games vs. UMass
Feb. 29, March 1: Two games at Vermont
March 8, 9: Hosts two games vs. UMass-Lowell to wrap up the regular season.

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