The University of Maine finally figured out how to win again, in time to resume playing games that ultimately matter.

After a solid start to the season — the Black Bears took points in four of their first six games against NCAA competition — Maine suffered a four-goal setback to Boston College and hasn’t been the same since. It began a five-game skid (0-4-1) during which the Black Bears scored only 11 goals while allowing 19. Four of the 11 goals Maine scored were on the power play, with another coming in a four-on-four situation.

Wednesday, against the U.S. Under-18 squad in Orono, Maine found its scoring touch again. Led by first-liner Spencer Abbott’s four points and finally getting some help from the second and third units, Maine took home a 6-4 victory, its first since Oct. 29.

“It was a good feeling,” Maine coach Tim Whitehead said. “It was kind of a crazy start to the game, with both goalies being pulled. You don’t often see that in an exhibition game. But (sophomore keeper Dan) Sullivan came in and settled things down for us, and we were able to get the win.”

The biggest difference for the Black Bears on Wednesday when compared to the team’s previous five contests: their tenacity.

“We want to get to the net more, be more aggressive,” Whitehead said. “We want to be able to score consistently on the power play and find some supplemental scoring. We got all three that night, and that’s why we were able to score often and win the game.”

The Bears’ next test comes Saturday night in their annual home game nearly three hours removed from campus, at the Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland, a venue that has treated Maine very kindly. In its previous 10 trips to Portland, Maine is 9-0-1, outscoring opponents 51-17. The lone tie, a 1-1 contest, came in 2006-07 against Mercyhurst.

“We’ve always seemed to play well here,” Whitehead said. “We came down a bit early this week, spent the day (Friday) in Portland. We participated in a youth clinic, we’re going to have a nice team meal and we’ll be ready to go (Saturday).

Clarkson, Maine’s opponent Saturday, is on an upswing, with a new coach at the helm this season in Casey Jones after the Golden Knights struggles last season. At 7-4-3 (2-3-1 in the ECAC), Clarkson is right in the middle of the ECAC pack early in the campaign.

“They have a very good senior class, they’re an experienced group and they’re going to be some good competition,” Whitehead said.

Leading the way for Clarkson has been senior goalie Paul Karpowich, who has played every minute this season for the Golden Knights, sporting a sparkling 1.76 goals-against average and a .943 save percentage. His record matches the team’s at 7-4-3.

Louke Oakley leads the Knights with 14 points this season, with Nick Tremblay on his heels with 12.

Maine’s top three scoring forwards have been consistently among the best in Hockey East this season. Brian Flynn, Spencer Abbott and Joey Diamond have accounted for 16 of the team’s 28 goals, with Kyle Beattie, Adam Shemansky, Klas Leidermark and Lewiston’s Mark Anthoine next on the list with two each.

Anthoine, now a sophomore, has turned the coaching staffs heads this season with his marked improvement aver a solid freshman campaign.

“He’s had four or five games in a row now where he’s had either one or no scoring opportunities against him,” Whitehead said. “He’s been getting a lot of time on the penalty kill and he’s been one of our most consistent hitters. He’s playing great hockey right now.”

Both of Anthoine’s goals this season have been power play tallies.

Maine and Clarkson drop the puck at 7 p.m.