Series Preview: Omaha at Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ), Feb. 20-21, 2026

By Bridget (Weide) Brooks

The final road trip of the regular season brings Omaha Hockey to Tempe, where the Mavericks face Arizona State in a series that has clear postseason implications for both teams.

Omaha (10-20-0, 6-14-0 NCHC) sits ninth in the conference standings with 18 points, just behind Arizona State (13-18-1, 6-13-1 NCHC), which holds eighth place with 19 points.

With only four regular-season games remaining, the margin for error is gone — and both teams know it.

Head coach Mike Gabinet didn’t mince words about the importance of the weekend.

“You gotta approach it like a playoff series… everybody knows what’s at stake here,” he noted.

Senior forward Tyler Rollwagen echoed that sentiment, describing the mindset entering the series in equally direct terms.

“Going into ASU, it’s a playoff series… we gotta get some points.”

The Mavericks have dropped three of their last four games against ranked opponents, including last weekend’s home series, where they were swept by No. 8 Denver. But Omaha has proven throughout the season it can compete with top teams. The Mavericks have six wins against ranked opponents, including road victories over then-No. 3 Minnesota-Duluth and then-No. 3 Western Michigan.

Now comes the challenge of getting the consistent results needed to climb the NCHC standings.

For Omaha, the key is executing the style that’s worked at its best.

Rollwagen emphasized the importance of starting fast and dictating play early.

“We wanna play simple. We wanna play fast and get to our forecheck… we’re at our best when we’re playing down low and really making other teams defend.”

That approach will be critical against an Arizona State team that thrives when playing with the lead. The Sun Devils are 8-3-0 when leading after the first period but winless when trailing after one.

Omaha has faced its own consistency challenges this season, particularly finishing games. The Mavericks are 10-2-0 when leading after two periods but winless when trailing after two (0-11-0).

Gabinet pointed to those pivotal swings as defining moments.

“Those big moments in the game… you gotta find ways to make sure you’re on the right side of those big moments,” he said.

Offensive production has come by committee this season, with 20 of Omaha’s 26 skaters recording at least one goal and eight players scoring five or more.

Trevor Wong and Luke Woodworth lead the team with 17 points each, while Maxime Pellerin and Marcus Nguyen pace the Mavericks with eight goals apiece.

Griffin Ludtke anchors the blue line offensively, leading the team with 14 assists.

Freshman forward Jérémy Loranger added his fifth goal of the season in Saturday’s game against Denver, while senior Samuel Huo opened scoring on Friday night.

The addition of Ryan McCleary has also provided a boost on the back end. The Pittsburgh Penguins draft pick joined the team in January and scored his first goal as a Maverick last weekend.

Arizona State Has Offensive Talent
ASU enters the series on a five-game losing streak, including a sweep at Western Michigan last weekend. But the Sun Devils remain one of the more dangerous offensive teams in the conference.

Senior forwards Cruz Lucius and Bennett Schimek lead the team with 38 points each, ranking among the top scorers nationally. Lucius leads the team with 12 goals, while Schimek’s 27 assists are tied for the NCHC lead.

Their top line, which includes sophomore Cullen Potter, has been one of the most productive in the country, combining for 89 points earlier this season. (Potter is out with a season-ending injury.)

Special teams could play a decisive role. Arizona State’s power play ranks among the best in the conference at 24.0%, while Omaha counters with a penalty kill that has improved throughout the season.

Gabinet emphasized the importance of maintaining discipline and continuing recent progress.

“Our guys have really grown in that department… power play being good, penalty kill being good… they’re key when you’re playing these good teams.”

An Opportunity to Shape the Postseason
This weekend represents more than just another road series. It’s a chance to change the trajectory of Omaha’s season. Both teams are separated by a single point in the standings. Both are fighting for positioning entering the NCHC tournament. And both understand the urgency. The ninth place team in the conference doesn’t get a spot in the playoffs.

Gabinet expects exactly the kind of battle that situation demands.

“They played extremely hard… it should be a hard-fought series,” he said.

For Omaha’s seniors, including Rollwagen, the stakes carry added meaning as their collegiate careers enter the final stretch.

“We hold the pen to our story… it’s all in our hands right now.”

With only four games left before postseason play begins, the Mavericks now head to the desert knowing exactly what’s required: A playoff-style series, in every sense.

When:
> Friday, 8 p.m. CT at Mullett Arena (Tempe, AZ)
> Saturday, 6 p.m. CT at Mullett Arena (Tempe, AZ)

Radio:
The game will be broadcast live on 1290 AM and on The Varsity Network app. Pre-game coverage begins 30 minutes prior to face off with the FNBO Pre-Game Show. “Voice of the Mavs” Mike Vaillancourt will have the play-by-play, with color commentary provided by Terry Leahy.

TV:
The game will be streamed on NCHC.tv ($) 




On this episode of the Mavpuckcast, Jon and Bridget talk about the University of Nebraska - Omaha Maverick Hockey team’s recent series against Denver at Baxter arena (includes their picks for “Player of the Week”). They talk about some “Things You Missed at Baxter Arena,” including this year’s “Stripe Out” and Senior Night. They wrap up the episode with their preview and predictions for Omaha’s upcoming hockey series versus the Arizona State Sun Devils at Mullett Arena in Tempe. 

Next Weekend:

Omaha returns to Baxter Arena for the final regular season home series vs. Miami (OH). Friday night’s game is Leap For a Cure night while Saturday night has been designated a White Out. Both games are at 7:07 p.m. Central time.