Matchup	Merrimack (12-8-3, 8-7-1 WHEA) // Maine (13-8-2, 6-8-2 WHEA)
Date/Time	Jan. 18 (3 p.m.) // Jan. 19 (2 p.m.)
Venue	Lawler Rink // North Andover, Mass.
Multimedia	Fri: Live Stats  // Watch Sat: Live Stats // Watch

 
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – After splitting last weekend's series at Vermont, the Merrimack College women's ice hockey team looks climb higher the Hockey East rankings this weekend with four massive points on the line against Maine.

The Black Bears currently sit three points behind Merrimack, with its 14 points good for 7^th place. The Warriors' 17 points are tied for 5^th in Hockey East with UConn, and with two of the four top teams tied with 20 points, this weekend matchup has the potential to really shake up what the standings look like as the season begins to wind down.

Friday Promotions:

• Friday night will serve as this year's Skating Strides against Breast Cancer game. Once again, this year's proceeds will go directly to the Ellie Fund; the Skating Strides merchandise table will be located in the DiCroce Lobby for your chance to purchase hoodies, caps, tee shirts and additional apparel, novelty items and more.  100% of all Skating Strides fundraising will go to the Ellie Fund in the fight against breast cancer.  
• The Bertanga Trophy Tour will also be making its first stop of the season at Lawler Rink Friday night, giving fans the opportunity to see the championship trophy up close. Traveling to all ten arenas in the next two months, fans can also enter a raffle to win four tickets to the 17^th Annual Women's Hockey East Championship, held March 9-10 at Schneider Arena, home of the Providence Friars. The Bertanga Trophy Tour table will be located in the DiCroce Lobby during Friday's game.

Five Things to Know:

• Merrimack's power play is currently third in the country, with a conversion percentage of 24.69.
• Maine enters the weekend with two shutout victories in the month of January; one against Boston University and the other against Holy Cross.
• The Black Bears are averaging just 1.80 goals allowed per game; Merrimack's 5-1 victory is the most goals the team has given up all season.
• Senior Katelyn Rae is fourth in the nation in goals scored with 17.
• Senior Samantha Ridgewell is fourth in the nation in save percentage with .939.  

Inside the Matchup:
 

Merrimack (12-8-3, 8-7-1 HEA)	Category	Vermont (6-11-4, 4-8-2 HEA)
1/12 vs. Vermont (L, 5-4)	Last Time Out	1/12 vs. Holy Cross (W, 3-0)
2.80	Scoring Offense	2.80
1.90	Scoring Defense	1.80
28.1	Shots/Game	30.0
39.9	Shots Allowed/Game	23.3
19-78	PPG-Chances	11-80
24.7%	PP%	13.8%
65.75	PK-Chances	78-95
86.7%	PK%	85.1%
80-160	Penalties-PIM	113-248
7.0	PIM/Game	10.8
270	Blocked Shots	258
601-600	Faceoffs (W-L)	587-607
50%	Faceoff %	49.2%

 
Up Next
The Warriors will finish off its season series against Maine Saturday, January 19. Puck drop is set for 2 p.m.