University of Maine men’s hockey coach Ben Barr understands his predicament heading into the season-opening series against Holy Cross.

His Black Bears, sixth in one national poll and eighth in the other, are coming off an underwhelming performance in a 2-2 exhibition tie against New Hampshire at Bowdoin College’s Sidney J. Watson Arena last Friday night. They were outshot 38-18 but rallied from a 2-0 deficit.

And now they will take on the defending Atlantic Hockey America regular season champion Holy at the newly-renovated Alfond Arena at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

“We aren’t really clicking in any way, shape or form. That was a good learning experience for all of us,” Barr said.

The Black Bears have 13 newcomers, and 12 of them played in the exhibition game.

“We’re going to make

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