ORONO — At this point, it’s obvious the only way the University of Maine men’s hockey team will make a third straight trip to the NCAA tournament is by repeating as Hockey East champion.

It’s not obvious that the Black Bears could reel off the four-game winning streak that would be necessary to pull off that feat.

A 2-0 loss Friday to UConn at Alfond Arena highlighted the problem that has plagued Maine throughout the season — a power play that can’t generate enough goals to be a threat.

The loss was the third straight for Maine (14-12-2, 8-10 Hockey East), and it was the sixth time in the Black Bears’ last seven games that they scored fewer than three goals. The power play was 0 for 5 and is now 1 for 27 in the last 10 games.

Maine coach Ben Barr said the loss wasn’t due to a lack of effort.

“They’re a good defensive team, so it’s hard to generate in the offensive zone. I thought our power play had some good looks,” Barr said. “The extra’s going to be, can we screen the goalie and get a rebound goal? We had a ton of pucks around the net (but) we can’t put in. It’s a struggle, but I thought the effort was a positive.”

UConn (17-7-3, 11-5-1) took a 1-0 lead at 18:57 of the first period when Joey Muldowney fired a shot after Ryan Tattle won a faceoff to the left of Maine goalie Mathis Rousseau (18 saves).

The Huskies scored again at 9:23 of the third when a Tattle pass found Ethan Gardula leaving the penalty box. Gardula broke in to beat Rousseau for a 2-0 lead.

“When you’re struggling a little bit, every little moment matters. Give a guy 5 feet, (the puck) is in the back of the net. End of the power play, that moment matters,” Barr said.

Tyler Muszelik made 32 saves for the Huskies, including 14 in the third period.

“Manufacturing offense is not something we’ve been very good at this year. We’re fine when we’re up and down the ice and feeling good and getting time and space,” Barr said.

Freshman Justin Poirier, Maine’s top scorer with 18 goals and 11 assists, missed the game because of an injury. Barr said Poirier is day to day.