No. 8 Mavs Back On Road To Face No. 6 Bulldogs
Feb 26, 2015 | Hockey
This Week
The No. 8 Omaha Mavericks play their final road series of the regular season when they visit No. 6 Minnesota Duluth for games on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 27-28. Friday's game begins at 7:07 p.m., and Saturday's game starts at 6:07 p.m. from AMSOIL Arena in Duluth, Minn.
The Teams
The Mavericks are 17-10-3 overall this season and 11-8-1-1 in the NCHC, putting them in a tie with Denver for third place. The Mavericks are coming off two losses at St. Cloud State last weekend. The Mavericks lost 4-3 in the opener and bowed 2-0 the next night. The Mavericks trail the all-time series with Minnesota Duluth, 7-12-0, and are just 2-6-0 all-time in Duluth. Omaha is 7-5-2 on the road this season.
Minnesota Duluth is 19-12-1 overall and 11-8-1-0 in the NCHC this season, good for fifth place, one point behind the Mavericks. The Bulldogs split two games last weekend, winning at Miami, 3-1, before losing the next night, 4-3 in overtime. UMD is 8-5-1 at home this season.
Last Time Out
The Mavericks were swept for the first time this season, dropping a pair of games at St. Cloud State. On Friday, SCSU got a pair of powerplay goals in the first period before Ian Brady's powerplay tally late in the second trimmed the lead. In the third, Tyler Vesel tied the game at 2 on a three-on-two rush at 9:26, and Austin Ortega put the Mavs in front with a powerplay goal just 1:30 later. But the Huskies got goals from Blake Winiecki and David Morley just 16 second apart late in the third to earn the win. Ryan Massa stopped 35 for the Mavericks.
On Saturday, the Mavericks were shutout for the first time this season. Nathan Widman scored in the second, and Jimmy Murray tallied in the third for the Huskies who got 21 saves from Charlie Lindgren in the win. Massa stopped 30 in defeat.
The Coaches
Dean Blais is in his sixth year as the head coach of the Mavericks, having led UNO to two 20-win campaigns in that time. The 1973 graduate of Minnesota has posted a record of 370-211-54 (.625) in his career as a head coach and has guided the Mavericks to a mark of 108-96-21 (.527). He coached in his 200th game at UNO on Oct. 31 at Cornell.
Blais is a two-time Spencer Penrose Memorial Award winner as the Division I coach of the year and a four-time winner of the WCHA's Coach of the Year Award. He spent 10 years as head coach at North Dakota where he led UND to national championships in 1997 and 2000. He is assisted by coaches Troy Jutting and Alex Todd who both have extensive head coaching experience, Jutting at Minnesota State and Todd at Castleton (Vt.) State.
Scott Sandelin is in his 15th season at the helm of Minnesota Duluth. The 1986 graduate of North Dakota and one-time assistant to Blais at UND, is 266-257-68 all-time in Duluth. He is assisted by Jason Herter and Derek Plante.
Media
Both games can be heard live on 1180 The Zone 2. Dave Ahlers will have the play-by-play, and Terry Leahy will handle the analysis both nights. Coverage begins 30 minutes before game time with the First National Bank Pre-Game Show. Streaming video is available through NCHC.tv, while live audio and stats are available at OMavs.com. Saturday's game also will air on Fox Sports North and Fox College Sports.
Up Next For the Mavericks
The Mavericks finish the regular season at home on Friday and Saturday, March 6-7 against Colorado College. Friday's game begins at 7:37 p.m., and Saturday's game starts at 7:07 p.m. from the CenturyLink Center.
The No. 8 Omaha Mavericks play their final road series of the regular season when they visit No. 6 Minnesota Duluth for games on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 27-28. Friday's game begins at 7:07 p.m., and Saturday's game starts at 6:07 p.m. from AMSOIL Arena in Duluth, Minn.
The Teams
The Mavericks are 17-10-3 overall this season and 11-8-1-1 in the NCHC, putting them in a tie with Denver for third place. The Mavericks are coming off two losses at St. Cloud State last weekend. The Mavericks lost 4-3 in the opener and bowed 2-0 the next night. The Mavericks trail the all-time series with Minnesota Duluth, 7-12-0, and are just 2-6-0 all-time in Duluth. Omaha is 7-5-2 on the road this season.
Minnesota Duluth is 19-12-1 overall and 11-8-1-0 in the NCHC this season, good for fifth place, one point behind the Mavericks. The Bulldogs split two games last weekend, winning at Miami, 3-1, before losing the next night, 4-3 in overtime. UMD is 8-5-1 at home this season.
Last Time Out
The Mavericks were swept for the first time this season, dropping a pair of games at St. Cloud State. On Friday, SCSU got a pair of powerplay goals in the first period before Ian Brady's powerplay tally late in the second trimmed the lead. In the third, Tyler Vesel tied the game at 2 on a three-on-two rush at 9:26, and Austin Ortega put the Mavs in front with a powerplay goal just 1:30 later. But the Huskies got goals from Blake Winiecki and David Morley just 16 second apart late in the third to earn the win. Ryan Massa stopped 35 for the Mavericks.
On Saturday, the Mavericks were shutout for the first time this season. Nathan Widman scored in the second, and Jimmy Murray tallied in the third for the Huskies who got 21 saves from Charlie Lindgren in the win. Massa stopped 30 in defeat.
The Coaches
Dean Blais is in his sixth year as the head coach of the Mavericks, having led UNO to two 20-win campaigns in that time. The 1973 graduate of Minnesota has posted a record of 370-211-54 (.625) in his career as a head coach and has guided the Mavericks to a mark of 108-96-21 (.527). He coached in his 200th game at UNO on Oct. 31 at Cornell.
Blais is a two-time Spencer Penrose Memorial Award winner as the Division I coach of the year and a four-time winner of the WCHA's Coach of the Year Award. He spent 10 years as head coach at North Dakota where he led UND to national championships in 1997 and 2000. He is assisted by coaches Troy Jutting and Alex Todd who both have extensive head coaching experience, Jutting at Minnesota State and Todd at Castleton (Vt.) State.
Scott Sandelin is in his 15th season at the helm of Minnesota Duluth. The 1986 graduate of North Dakota and one-time assistant to Blais at UND, is 266-257-68 all-time in Duluth. He is assisted by Jason Herter and Derek Plante.
Media
Both games can be heard live on 1180 The Zone 2. Dave Ahlers will have the play-by-play, and Terry Leahy will handle the analysis both nights. Coverage begins 30 minutes before game time with the First National Bank Pre-Game Show. Streaming video is available through NCHC.tv, while live audio and stats are available at OMavs.com. Saturday's game also will air on Fox Sports North and Fox College Sports.
Up Next For the Mavericks
The Mavericks finish the regular season at home on Friday and Saturday, March 6-7 against Colorado College. Friday's game begins at 7:37 p.m., and Saturday's game starts at 7:07 p.m. from the CenturyLink Center.
Players Mentioned
Tuesday, September 01
Wednesday, August 26
Friday, August 21
Tuesday, April 21
