Omaha vs. Denver: March 4-5, 2016 in Denver

Wow, it's hard to believe that we're already at the end of the regular season. What a roller coaster ride it's been. From starting the season 8-0 at Baxter Arena, to winning 10 non-conference games, many of us (me included) thought this would be "the year" for the Mavs. (Especially after last year's magical run through the playoffs, culminating in the team's first Frozen Four appearance.)

But the departure of Avery Peterson at Christmas seems to have knocked the Mavs off the track. Or something did. Looking at the team from the outside in, it's hard to know what's going on. Dean Blais described the team as "fragile" this week. Phil Aldrich called them a "hot mess."

Whatever's going on, I hope they can turn it around. They certainly have the potential. They need some confidence. And some scoring.

It's going to be tough. Denver is on a roll at the moment. They're 12-1-3 since the start of the year, and are on a seven-game winning streak. The Mavs, on the other hand, are slumping, having been swept by UND and St. Cloud the past two weekends.

No matter what happens this weekend in Denver, the Mavs are going on the road for the playoffs next week. No home ice for us. But we have a chance to improve our positioning in the NCHC with the outcomes of the games this weekend, so there's something to play for!

For your reading enjoyment, the NCHC has prepared a PDF with all the possible seeding possibilities:
http://assets.ngin.com/attachments/document/0093/8954/Seeding_scenarios.pdf

Here's a roundup of this week's media:

Mavs fall to #15 in both national polls:
http://www.omaha.com/uno/mavs-fall-to-no-in-major-hockey-polls/article_145329ce-df2f-11e5-8d7a-4385b03fd36d.html

OMavs.com series preview -- #15 UNO at #7 Denver:
http://www.omavs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31400&ATCLID=210769137

Omaha World-Herald Friday night preview -- "Mavericks seek to right the ship against Denver"
http://www.omaha.com/uno/mavericks-seek-to-right-the-ship-against-denver/article_352c4a9b-a172-544c-aabd-c911f85251aa.html

Denver Post series preview:
http://www.denverpost.com/colleges/ci_29593654/goal-denver-pioneers-hockey-keep-it-rolling

Game Times:
Friday night's game is at 8:37 p.m. Central time.
Saturday night's game is at 8:07 p.m. Central time.

TV Coverage:
Both games will be on NCHC.tv. (That's one thing I like this year compared to last year. Last year's Denver games were not on NCHC.tv. for some reason that I can't remember. Good to be able to watch them on NCHC this time around.)

Radio Coverage: 
Both games will be broadcast on 1180 AM (1180 The Zone 2). Dave Ahlers will provide radio play-by-play and Terry Leahy will provide color commentary. Coverage begins at 8:07 Central Friday and 7:37 p.m. Central Saturday with the First National Bank Pre-Game Show.