Preparing for Michigan State

ORONO - All they can do is move on. Quickly.

That's what the University of Maine men's hockey team hopes to do - and has to do - with its home opener two days away against Michigan State, one of the nation's storied hockey programs.

Union swept a two-game series from the Black Bears last weekend in Schenectady, N.Y., and the Black Bears pointed to a host of areas that need to be improved upon - collective team intensity, less apprehension in the systems and special teams.

"Our intensity and grit was missing," assistant captain Jeff Dimmen said. "We didn't play normal Maine hockey out there and it showed. We turned the puck over a lot and we need to protect our goalie."

Maine gave up 10 goals on 50 shots in their first two games and went 1 for 8 on the power play in the season opener last Friday, a 4-1 loss. The Black Bears finished the weekend 3 for 12 on the man-advantage.

"Obviously it was a tough weekend, and we're not satisfied with how it went," junior forward Robby Dee said.

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Dee will play at center for the second weekend in a row, filling in for Tanner House (knee injury) on Maine's top line.

Dee, a junior, moves from the wing and at center, he'll be responsible for forechecking, backchecking, faceoffs, penalty-killing and playing on the power play - a sort of quarterback on the ice.

"There are more responsibilities," Dee said. "Instead of being down low, you're up high, closer to the point, and faceoffs are a key thing. So is possession of the puck."

Dee is 12 of 18 (67 percent) on faceoffs.

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Scott Darling said this afternoon he's ready to return to the ice. Darling missed Maine's two games at Union after violating the student-athlete code of conduct in the spring.

"It was a strange feeling I'd never felt before," Darling said of staying in Orono last weekend, instead of traveling with the team. "It really makes you think about things."

Darling is expected to start Friday against the Spartans. Michigan State is 2-0 after sweeping Clarkson last weekend in a nonconference series in East Lansing, Mich.

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Adam Shemansky, a freshman forward, was one of seven freshman to play last weekend at Union. It wasn't so much of a debut as it was a trial by fire for Shemansky, a forward from Robbinsville, N.J., who scored two goals.

"It was the fastest-paced game I've ever played in," Shemansky said. "You have to make decisions that much quicker."

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House will miss this weekend's series, as will Mark Nemec (broken thumb). Ryan Hegarty will sit out Friday's game (suspension) while Kevin Swallow (shoulder sprain) is day-to-day.