Maine Trust for Local News sports columnist Travis Lazarczyk is a voter in the USCHO.com men’s hockey poll. Each week he will share his top 20, as well as hit on a few items of interest in the sport.

After Michigan State swept Penn State, the Spartans were an easy choice to keep in the No. 1 spot.

1. Michigan State
2. Michigan
3. Denver
4. North Dakota
5. Penn State
6. Quinnipiac
7. Minnesota-Duluth
8. Maine
9. Western Michigan
10. Wisconsin
11. UMass
12. Northeastern
13. UConn
14. Providence
15. Boston University
16. Dartmouth
17. Union
18. Boston College
19. Cornell
20. Colorado College

Maine splits at UMass, but penalties persist

A split on the road against a tough, nationally ranked opponent isn’t the worst thing, but the Black Bears’ 4-0 loss at UMass on Friday felt like a letdown, especially following a 6-2 victory the night before. The loss also highlighted a problem that, 10 games into the season, must be solved.

The penalty kill has to improve. Maine’s kill percentage, 76.6%, ranks ninth in Hockey East, ahead of just UMass and Vermont. Maine has allowed 47 power-play opportunities. Only Boston University (49) has allowed more in the conference. The 11 power-play goals surrendered by the Black Bears is the most in Hockey East. Maine gave up at least one power-play goal in seven of those first 10 games. Conversely, Maine’s power play is ninth in the league, successful on just 16.7% of opportunities (7 of 42).

Special teams is often the difference between a good team and an average one. Even with the struggles on the power play, the Black Bears average nearly four goals per game. Sharpening both the power play and penalty kill (mainly by taking fewer penalties) will be a key as the Black Bears enter the grind of the conference schedule in coming weeks.

For the second week in a row, I had Maine at No. 8 on my ballot. I felt last week’s climb to No. 6 in the poll was a minor overreaction to the sweep of BU. This week Maine sits at No. 8, right where I have the Black Bears, with Vermont coming to Orono for a pair of games.

More matchups between ranked teams this weekend

If Hockey East and the Big Ten continue to dominate the top 20, these matchups will be a weekly thing. In Hockey East, we have No. 11 Northeastern at No. 14 UConn, and No. 12 UMass vs. No. 18 Boston College. In the Big Ten, No. 2 Michigan is at No. 5 Penn State. Let’s not leave out the NCHC, where No. 17 Colorado College and No. 4 Denver resume their rivalry.

Keep an eye on Dartmouth

The Big Green are 4-0 and allowed just one goal in each of their last three games. Dartmouth beat Cornell 2-2 on Saturday in a contest between two strong Ivy League teams just starting the season. Dartmouth opened last year with five straight wins, so fast starts are nothing new in Hanover. A trip to northern New York this weekend for games against St. Lawrence and Clarkson will help show if the strong start is sustainable.