Series Preview: Omaha vs. Arizona State, Dec. 21-22, 2019

Home ice has been more “naughty” than “nice” to the Mavs over the past few weeks (the team is 3-4-1 at Baxter Arena this season), but the team and fans are hoping Santa won’t be leaving coal in their stockings heading into the holiday break as the Mavs play a rare Saturday night/Sunday afternoon series.

There’s reason to be optimistic: UNO finally broke through with a win against St. Cloud last weekend, earning a split against SCSU. The Mavs lost 4-1 on Friday night before eeking out a hard-fought 4-3 overtime victory on Saturday — the first Mav win against the Huskies in 11 tries.

UNO is 7-7-2 overall and 2-5-1-0 in the NCHC — currently in a tie for seventh place with Colorado College.

#14/16 Arizona State is also coming off a split last weekend with Michigan State. The Sun Devils beat the Spartans 4-3 Friday and lost 1-0 in OT on Saturday. The Sun Devils are 9-5-2 this season, including 6-2-2 in the last 10 games.

Omaha is 5-2-1 all-time against Arizona State, including 5-0-1 at Baxter Arena. Last year, the Mavs beat the Sun Devils 6-4 and 4-0 at Baxter Arena. But ASU is solid in regulation play — the Sun Devils have not trailed in regulation since a game vs. Alaska on Nov. 8.

Freshman goaltender Isaiah Saville will be absent for the Mavs this weekend as he is currently at camp with prospects for the Team USA U-20 team for World Juniors. Fans can expect to see freshman Austin Roden in net for the Mavs for one or both games this weekend. 

Fun fact: Expected ASU goaltender Evan DeBrouwer split time in net with Roden when they both played for the Nanaimo Clippers during the 2016-17 season.

Series preview articles:

OMavs.com:
https://omavs.com/news/2019/12/20/hockey-mavericks-close-out-calendar-year-by-welcoming-no-14-16-arizona-state.aspx

Arizona State hockey:

https://thesundevils.com/news/2019/12/20/seasons-greetings-for-14-16-hockey-from-omaha.aspx

Omaha.com ($):
https://www.omaha.com/sports/college/uno/uno-hockey-hopes-to-end-on-a-high-note-with/article_db70af5d-b7ef-5ae7-b1ae-9a3c2d3bb713.html

When:

> Saturday, 7:07 p.m. CT

> Sunday, 4:07 p.m. CT

Radio:

Both games will be broadcast live on 1180 AM (Zone 2). Donny Baarns will provide play-by-play and Terry Leahy will provide analysis and Lester St. James will report rinkside. Pre-game coverage begins 30 minutes prior to face off. 

TV:

> Saturday and Sunday’s games will be streamed on NCHC.tv ($)

Live Audio and Stats:

Live Audio: Click here

Live Stats: Click here

Also check out episode 10 of the second season of the “MavPuckCast with Jason & Jon.” This episode features Jon and Jason talking about the series with St. Cloud and their predictions about Mavericks vs. the Sun Devils.

Next up: 
The Mavs are off briefly before traveling to Maine on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 3-4, 2020. Friday's game start at 5:07 p.m. CT and will be played at Alfond Arena in Orono, Maine. Saturday's game begins at 11 a.m. CT and will be played at Cross Insurance Arena in Portland, Maine.