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Omaha will look to stay hot in NCHC play and continue its recent success against Miami, as the Mavs head to Oxford, Ohio.
Omaha has won eight straight against the RedHawks and swept Miami in late November, including a season-high eight goals in the series finale. Miami’s struggles have continued since, as the RedHawks carry a 12-game skid into this weekend.
Here’s what you need to know before the puck drops.
Game 1: Friday, Jan. 17, 6:05 p.m. CDT
Game 2: Saturday, Jan. 18, 6:05 p.m. CDT
Both games played at Goggin Ice Center
Omaha
Conference: NCHC
Head coach: Mike Gabinet (8th season, 127-124-18)
Leading scorer: Sam Stange, Gr., F (9-6-15)
Between the pipes: Simon Latkoczy, Jr. (8-9-0, .932 save percentage, 2.32 GAA)
Power Play: 10/73 (13.7%)
Penalty Kill: 46/56 (82.1%)
Miami
Conference: NCHC
Head coach: Anthony Noreen (1st season, 3-15-2)
Leading scorer: Johnny Waldron, Jr., F (4-10-14)
Between the pipes: Bruno Bruveris, So. (2-9-1, .876 save percentage, 3.90 GAA)
Power Play: 15/75 (20%)
Penalty Kill: 62/76 (81.6%)
All-time series: Tied, 29-29-7
Last matchup: Nov. 23, 2024 – Omaha 8-1 win at Baxter Arena
Omaha is coming off its best weekend since the Ice Breaker Tournament, as the Mavs swept No. 13 Colorado College on home ice.
Brady Risk netted a hat trick in Friday’s 5-2 win and Omaha scored a pair of key third-period goals on Saturday, as the Mavs clinched the sweep with a 3-1 win. Simon Latkoczy was tremendous both nights and made 75 of a possible 78 saves in the series, and he and Risk were named the NCHC’s Goalie and Forward of the Week on Monday. Latkoczy was also named to the Mike Richter Award Watch List on Wednesday.
UNO Mavericks player, Brady Risk, makes a pass during a college hockey game on Jan 11th, 2025 in Omaha, Nebraska. Photo by Logan Hock
Omaha is 5-1-0 over its past six NCHC contests and 6-2-0 since being swept by Western Michigan in early November to open conference play.
The Mavs enter this weekend tied for fourth in the NCHC standings with 17 points – just two behind Arizona State, North Dakota and Western Michigan, who are all tied for first.
“The guys keep improving, keep growing and we’ve got
lots of work still to do here, but we’ll keep working,” head coach Mike Gabinet said Wednesday afternoon.
One key piece of news came out of Wednesday’s media availability, as Gabinet confirmed Omaha will be without Cam Mitchell this weekend. The junior forward exited last Friday’s game with a third-period injury and did not play against CC on Saturday. Mitchell has six goals and two assists over his last nine games.
It’s been another tough season in Oxford as the RedHawks look to get back on track under first-year coach Anthony Noreen.
Miami’s last win came on Oct. 26 against Lindenwood, and the RedHawks have been out-scored 53-18 since and dropped 12 straight.
Miami is 0-10-0 in NCHC play and has just one point – an overtime loss at St. Cloud State on Nov. 8. The RedHawks are also 3-8-0 on home ice this season and have been out-scored 77-40 through 20 games.
Miami was swept at Denver last weekend, falling 4-1 and 6-2 in the two games. It was Miami’s first action since Dec. 6-7, but despite the layoff and lack of success, they’ll be a tough opponent this weekend.
“When you look at their roster, they’ve got some pretty big-time players on their roster that are dangerous players,” Gabinet said. “Even watching their Denver game, it’s 0-0 after one and a one-goal game after two. So everyone realizes they’re just playing in the NCHC against good teams that are hard to beat. So we have to just treat it like a normal week and prepare properly and be ready to go.”
“I think the biggest thing in college is any given night anybody can beat anyone,” added graduate forward Harrison Israels. “There’s no expecting a blowout at all. Every team in this league is good, and Miami’s got a lot of talent on their team too. So sometimes teams go through struggles and stuff, but that doesn’t take away from how skilled and how talented a team can be.”
It’s been nearly three years since Omaha last lost to Miami – Feb. 12, 2022. The Mavs were swept that weekend in Oxford, however, it’s been a relatively one-sided series in recent years.
The Mavs have won eight straight, nine of the past 11 and held the RedHawks to one or zero goals in seven of those 11 games, out-scoring Miami 39-19 in the stretch.
They’ve done it against an opponent they struggled with for years too. Omaha started the all-time series 6-17-3, including a 0-11-1 stretch from Jan. 22, 2005 through Feb. 19, 2010 – which included a nine-game win streak by the RedHawks.
It’s the longest streak in the all-time series, yet Omaha will look to grab that title this weekend.
Number to know: 3.9 – Miami enters the series allowing 3.9 goals per game, the third-highest total in the country. Miami’s 2.0 goals scored per game also ranks 58th out of 64 teams.
Player to Watch: Brady Risk, Gr., F – Risk had the hat trick last Friday and added an assist on Saturday, giving him five goals and an assist over his past five games. His line with Israels and Myles Hilman combined for 10 points (5-5-0) against CC.
Series prediction: Omaha sweep
Jan 13, 2025
Jan 12, 2025
OMAHA, Neb. – The Mavericks netted a pair of third-period goals Saturday night and completed their second sweep of the season, handing No. 13 Colorado College a 3-1 loss at Baxter Arena. The win gives Omaha a four-game win streak against the Tigers and 6-1-2 record…
Jan 10, 2025
OMAHA, Neb. – If you’re a fan of offense and intense hockey, Baxter Arena was just the place for you Friday night, as the Mavericks returned to NCHC action with a 5-2 win over No. 13 Colorado College. The two teams combined for seven goals – including five in a 5:48…
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