We’ve said it before … we’ll say it again: “It’s another Top 20 matchup at Baxter Arena this weekend” as the #16 Omaha Mavericks welcome the #3 North Dakota Fighting Hawks to Baxter Arena for a pair of games.
This is the final series of the 2023-24 regular season. North Dakota claimed the Penrose Cup (NCHC regular season champion) in Grand Forks last weekend and is locked into home ice as the #1 seed for the first round of the NCHC playoffs. They will face last-place Miami (OH) next week (which Omaha swept last weekend in Oxford, Ohio).
North Dakota is 24-8-2 overall (15-6-1 in the NCHC). The team is currently on a four-game win streak, sweeping Minnesota Duluth and Western Michigan on successive weekends in Grand Forks. Final scores were 5-3 over WMU on Friday and 3-0 over the Broncos on Saturday. But the Fighting Hawks are 7-4-1 on the road, and Colorado College did manage a sweep of North Dakota in Colorado Springs two weeks ago.
Omaha has never swept North Dakota (during both our time in the WCHA and the NCHC).
Omaha is 18-10-4 overall (11-8-3 in the NCHC). The Mavericks are 7-1-2 in their last 10 games, and are 14-1 in one-goal games. The two teams met in January in Grand Forks. Omaha won Friday night’s game 5-4 in overtime, but North Dakota got the win on Saturday night, 3-1.
North Dakota leads all-time series between the two teams 36-19-2. The record is 16-9-12 in favor of North Dakota for games played in Omaha.
Coach Mike Gabinet said the team is ready for another tough matchup.
“I feel like it’s been a big weekend every weekend for the last — how many weekends? So just ‘business as usual’ and making sure we’re doing everything we can to prepare here and get ready for North Dakota on Friday night,” Gabinet said.
“I can’t think back to a weekend that hasn’t been a big weekend that people aren’t like – ‘Oh, this is the weekend that is important’ — so it almost gets to be almost humorous after a while because you’re just so used to it,” he added.
“You know what? You’re going to win some, you’re going to lose some. Do I know what’s going to happen? No, but you know what I know? That group in there (the players), man, they get after it. I know that coaching staff gets after it. I know nobody’s going to outwork us and out-prepare us, and that’s what we can control, and that’s what we want to build our confidence with is by the work we put in there. And the results will be the results,” Gabinet said.
Saturday night, the Maverick seniors will be honored. Gabinet reflected on the seniors and their impact.
“I'm just really happy for the seniors where they’re at — both on the ice and off the ice — and what they’ve contributed to the team and the university and the community,” he said. “So that's special to me, and I think that’s just what motivates you — to want to have success so they can experience success — because you want it so bad for them. And they deserve it.”
Senior forward Matt Miller said the team is ready for the series.
“Every team in our conference is going to give us a great battle. We know that going into each week, so we obviously don’t take anybody in our conference lightly,” Miller said. “We know North Dakota is a great team and plays similar to how we do in some ways. So we know that … we’re ready for that week in and week out.”
“I think this week is just another test for us to see how well we can buy into our team’s game plan. If we can do that, then I think they’re going to be two really good games this weekend,” he added.
NCHC Playoff Implications
Omaha still has a chance to secure home ice. Realistically, Omaha needs at least five points (and help from Denver) to secure home ice. In addition to North Dakota, St. Cloud and Denver have both secured home ice.
Colorado College has 38 points and is currently in fourth place. Omaha has 34 points and is in fifth place, 3 points ahead of Western Michigan. WMU plays Miami to end the season. Omaha can finish anywhere from fourth to six place. Western doesn’t have a chance for home ice for the playoffs, but could still finish ahead of UNO.
Here’s the NCHC summary:
NoDak 49 to 55 points (secured 1st place and home ice)
Denver 42 to 48 points (home ice guaranteed)
SCSU 40 to 46 points (home ice guaranteed)
CC 38 to 44 points
Omaha 34 to 40 points
Western 31 to 37 points (no chance for 4th place)
Duluth 23 to 29 points (locked into 7th)
Miami 7 to 13 points (locked into 8th)
For Fans Attending the Games in Person:
The west lot outside Baxter, Lot 25, is now open to donors only and parking passes are required to park in that lot. The north lot, Lot 27, offers free parking on a first-come, first-served basis, as is Lot 26 (west of the arena, across the creek). Omaha Athletics is also encouraging fans to park in one of the public garages at Aksarben Village.
Sellout crowds are expected this weekend. Fans should arrive early, especially if entering via the west entrance. Have digital tickets ready to scan in the Omaha Mavericks app (or add them from your MyMavs account to your phone’s wallet app). If you have questions, stop by the box office at Baxter Arena before the game or call 402-554-MAVS.
The clear bag policy remains in effect at Baxter Arena, and metal detectors are now at all entrances. All concession stands are card only (no cash).
Promotions:
Friday night is Leap-For-A-Cure night. There will be a table in the concourse where LFAC representatives will be collecting donations. In addition, the game-worn jersey auctions starts online Friday (ending Thursday, March 14). The Saturday night “grays” will be auctioned and the proceeds donated to Leap-For-A-Cure.
Saturday night is Senior Night and a White Out. (No shorts will be distributed; fans are encouraged to wear white.)
The seniors being honored are Brock Bremer, Jimmy Glynn, Nolan Krenzen, Matt Miller, Kirby Proctor (GR) Jack Randl (GR), and Nolan Sullivan (GR).
Transfers Seth Eisele, Jesse Lansdell and Dom Vidoli are closing out their Maverick careers but will not be honored on ice as they were honored as seniors by their previous teams.
> Friday, 7:07 p.m. CT at Baxter Arena (Omaha, NE)
> Saturday, 7:07 p.m. CT at Baxter Arena (Omaha, NE)
Radio:
Both games 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:
Friday and Saturday night’s games will be streamed on NCHC.tv ($)
Live Stats:
Friday and Saturday night stats will be available here.
Catch up on Mav hockey by watching Episode 18 of the sixth season of the MavPuckCast, with Jon and Bridget. In the 38-minute episode, they recap the Miami University series and preview the North Dakota series. Plus, catch Bridget’s interview with the event manager of the 2024 Ice Breaker tournament.
Next up: Omaha awaits the results of the final weekend of NCHC play to see where (and what time) next weekend’s games will be.
The other team, besides Western Michigan, in the scheduling “pod” with UNO this year, is North Dakota. This means the Mavericks face the Fighting Hawks four times this season. In January, the Mavs split a series in Grand Forks. The final two games — in fact, the final two home games of the 2019-20 season — will be this weekend at Baxter Arena. UNO will honor five seniors on Saturday night, Senior Night. Both games will be televised locally on YurView, with #oldbull Alex Blankenburg providing color commentary. They will also be available on MidcoSN in the Grand Forks TV market. The Mavs were swept by Miami in Oxford, OH last weekend and are 2-6-0 in their last 8 games. UNO is 13-16-5 overall and 7-12-3-0/0 in the NCHC. UNO is 12-23-1 all-time against UND, but are 6-7-3 at home during the 2019-20 season. The Mavs are currently in sixth place in the NCHC, but home ice is no longer a possibility. Omaha can finish in sixth or seventh place in the conference after this weekend’s games. North Dakota is 25-4-4 this season and 16-3-3-1/1 in the NCHC. The Fighting Hawks have already secured at least a portion of the Penrose Cup, which they were awarded last weekend in Grand Forks. The Fighting Hawks swept Western Michigan in the series (Saturday's game was an OT win). UND is 7-3-4 on the road this year. In contrast to the Mavs, the Fighting Hawks are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games.
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:
Both games will be televised locally on Cox Yurview Channel 1013. Dave Ahlers will provide play-by-play and former Maverick goaltender Alex Blankenburg will provide color commentary. Both games will also be streamed on NCHC.tv ($)
Also check out episode 19 of the second season of the “MavPuckCast with Jason & Jon.” This episode features Jon and Jason talking about the sweep at Colorado College, an update about some #futurebulls (recruits), and their predictions about Mavericks vs. the Fighting Hawks.
Next up: The first round of conference playoffs begins next weekend with a best-of-three series on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (if necessary), March 13-15. The opponent and site of the series will be determined at the end of play on Saturday.
The Mavs didn't get any breaks on the ice last weekend, coming up short in their bid to get a win against #3 St. Cloud at home as the regular season comes to an end. Saturday night, the three seniors will be honored (Brian Cooper, Tanner Lane, Aaron Pearce).
North Dakota's high-flying offense is averaging more than four goals a game. The Mavs have struggled with offense as of late. Keys to the game will be limiting the F'n Hawks' first line and for the Mavs, scoring first, early, and often.
Speaking of Cooper, the latest "Maverick Minutes" features an interview with him:
And if you missed last week's segment with "Junior Reporter" Brian Cooper, you can watch that here:
TV Coverage:
Friday and Saturday night's game will both be on NCHC.tv. Saturday night's game will also be shown on KXVO (CW-15).
Radio Coverage:
The 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 6:30 p.m. both nights with the First National Bank Pre-Game Show.
