This Week
The Omaha hockey team finishes the regular season this week, visiting No. 19 North Dakota on Friday and Saturday, March 8-9. Friday's game starts at 7:37 p.m., and Saturday's game begins at 7:07 p.m. from Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, N.D.
The Teams
Omaha is 9-20-3 overall and 5-15-2-0/1 in the NCHC, putting it in a tie with Miami for seventh place. The Mavericks lost to and tied No. 6 Denver last weekend at home. DU won 4-1 in the opener, and the Mavericks came from behind to earn a 3-3 tie the next night. All time, the Mavericks are 11-20-1 against North Dakota including a mark of 6-9-1 in Grand Forks. The Mavericks are 2-11-1 on the road this year and 2-7-1 in the last 10 games.
North Dakota is 16-15-2 overall and 10-11-1-0/0 in the NCHC, putting it in fifth place. The Fighting Hawks are coming off a road split against Colorado College last weekend. UND lost 3-1 in the opener before bouncing back for a 2-1 win on Saturday. The Fighting Hawks are 10-6-1 at home this season and 4-5-1 in their last 10 games.
Last Time Out
The Mavericks finished their four-game season series against Denver with a loss and a tie at home. On Friday, the Pioneers scored a pair of goals in both the first and third periods to beat the Mavericks, 4-1.
Taylor Ward tallied in the second period for Omaha's only goal of the game, and
Evan Weninger made 19 saves.
The following night, the Mavericks spotted the Pioneers a 3-1 lead before battling back for a 3-3 tie. DU would earned the extra standings point with a goal during the 3-on-3 overtime.
Kevin Conley scored two power play goals, including the game-tying goal in the third period.
Dean Stewart also lit the lamp on the power play, helping the Mavericks stop a 15-game losing streak to the Pioneers.
Ryan Jones and
Tyler Weiss each finished with two assists, and Weninger had 22 saves.
The Coaches
Mike Gabinet is in his second season as head coach of the Mavericks, posting a 26-37-5 record all-time at his alma mater. The 2004 graduate of Omaha served as an associate head coach during the 2016-17 season before being elevated to the head coach position last season.
Gabinet returned to Omaha after four seasons at NAIT in Edmonton, Alberta, the last as its head coach. That season, he led the Ooks to a 36-0-0 record and the ACAC Championship. He was named the conference Coach of the Year and became the first rookie head coach in Canadian college hockey to guide his team to an undefeated record.
Gabinet, a standout defenseman for the Mavericks from 2000-04, is assisted by
Dave Noel-Bernier (Omaha, 2001) and
Paul Jerrard (Lake Superior State, 1987).
Brad Berry is in his fourth season as the head coach at North Dakota. The 2002 graduate of UND is 88-50-19 at his alma mater. He is assisted by Dane Jackson (North Dakota, 1992) and Matt Shaw (Colorado College, 1989).
Media
Both games will be shown live in Omaha on Cox YurView channel 1013.
The games also can be heard live on 1180 The Zone 2.
Dave Ahlers will have the play-by-play, and Terry Leahy provides analysis. Coverage begins 30 minutes before game time with the First National Bank Pre-Game Show.
Live video is available on NCHC.tv, and audio and stat links are available at OMavs.com.
Up Next
The Mavericks will travel for the first round of the NCHC Playoffs. The opponent for the best-of-three series will be determined following the conclusion of play on Saturday.
