Series Preview: Omaha vs. Western Michigan, Jan. 31-Feb. 1, 2020

Western Michigan is in a scheduling “pod” with UNO this year, meaning the Mavericks face the Broncos four times this season. In November, Omaha split a series in Kalamazoo. The last two games will be this weekend at Baxter Arena. Note the later game time for Friday’s night's matchup due to the game being televised on CBS Sports Network.

The Mavericks are riding some momentum coming into this, as Jon noted on the MavPuckCast, “pivotal” NCHC conference series. UNO is unbeaten in its past four games (2-0-2), and swept Colorado College in Colorado Springs last weekend after tying Denver twice at Baxter Arena the weekend before.

UNO is just above .500 overall (11-10-5) and is just below .500 in the NCHC (5-6-3-0/0), currently in fifth place in conference standings.

UNO is 27-20-6 all-time against Western Michigan, including 15-7-2 at home. (Fun fact: UNO swept WMU at the CenturyLink Center in October 2004 on the weekend that Jon and I got married.)

The Broncos are also riding a high — they swept St. Cloud twice last weekend, 6-2 in both games. WMU is unbeaten (4-0-1) in their last five games. Western is 11-9-4 on the season and 7-5-2-0/2 in the NCHC. (Seven points ahead of Omaha in the standings.)

The Broncos will be without junior forward Paul Washe, who is serving a two-game suspension for confronting NCHC officials. Washe is the #2 points producer on the WMU roster this season with 9 goals and 9 assists. 

UNO Gateway reporter Jordan McAlpine reports the Mavs are a bit banged up heading into the series. The link to his series preview is below.

Series preview articles:

OMavs.com:
https://omavs.com/news/2020/1/30/hockey-mavericks-back-home-for-showdown-with-western-michigan.aspx

UNO Gateway article:
http://unothegateway.com/omaha-hockey-versus-western-michigan-series-preview-2/

WMU Hockey:

https://wmubroncos.com/news/2020/1/30/mens-ice-hockey-hockey-faces-tough-road-test-at-omaha.aspx

Omaha.com ($):
https://www.omaha.com/sports/college/uno/uno-enters-pivotal-series-for-nchc-standing-against-western-michigan/article_f348d991-239f-5f17-b5f0-fb1092513b93.html

When:

> Friday, 7:36 p.m. CT (late start due to CBS Sports Network coverage)

> Saturday, 7:07 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:

> Friday night’s game will be aired nationally on CBS Sports Network (and will not be available on NCHC.tv). For the TV broadcast, Ben Holden will provide play-by-play, Dave Starman will give analysis, and Shireen Saski will report rinkside. Saturday’s games will be streamed on NCHC.tv ($)

Live Audio and Stats:

Live Audio: Click here

Live Stats: Click here

Also check out episode 15 of the second season of the “MavPuckCast with Jason & Jon.” This episode features Jon and Jason talking about the sweep at St. Cloud, a recent article that sparked controversy among Mav fans, and their predictions about Mavericks vs. the Broncos.

Next up: 
The Mavs travel to face Minnesota Duluth in Duluth next weekend.