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The postseason is here and for just the second time in program history, the Mavericks will host a playoff series at Baxter Arena.
Omaha hosted North Dakota March 10-12, 2023, falling to the Fighting Hawks in three games. Fittingly enough, it’s once again the Fighting Hawks making the trip south for this weekend’s best-of-three series.
It’s the third time Omaha and UND have met in the NCHC Quarterfinals. The two schools also played in St. Paul last March at the NCHC Frozen Faceoff and UND has won four of the six previous playoff matchups. However, the Mavs earned a 6-3 win in that contest last March.
They met last weekend in Grand Forks too, as Omaha clinched home ice and a split with a 7-3 win on Saturday.
Here’s what you need to know before the puck drops.
Game 1: Friday, March 14, 7 p.m. CDT
Game 2: Saturday, March 15, 7 p.m. CDT
Game 3: Sunday, March 16, 6 p.m. CDT If Necessary
Omaha (No. 4 seed)
Conference: NCHC
Head coach: Mike Gabinet (8th season, 136-129-18)
Leading scorer: Sam Stange, Gr., F (15-17-32)
Between the pipes: Simon Latkoczy, Jr. (14-14-1, .925 save percentage, 2.68 GAA)
Power Play: 25/116 (21.6%)
Penalty Kill: 65/85 (76.5%)
Pairwise Ranking: 28th
North Dakota (No. 5 seed)
Conference: NCHC
Head coach: Brad Berry (10th season, 225-118-35)
Leading scorer: Sacha Boisvert, Fr., F (16-12-28)
Between the pipes: TJ Semptimphelter, Gr. (16-10-2, .905 save percentage, 2.71 GAA)
Power Play: 26/102 (25.5%)
Penalty Kill: 89/117 (76.1%)
Pairwise Ranking: 18th
All-time series: North Dakota leads, 37-23-2
Last matchup: March 8, 2025 – Omaha 7-3 win
March 9, 2018: UND 4-0 win (Ralph Engelstad Arena)
March 10, 2018: UND 4-3 OT win (Ralph Engelstad Arena)
March 10, 2023: Omaha 2-1 win (Baxter Arena)
March 11, 2023: UND 3-1 win (Baxter Arena)
March 12, 2023: UND 5-2 win (Baxter Arena)
March 22, 2024: Omaha 6-3 win (Xcel Energy Center)
Mike Gabinet’s club closed out the regular season with a split in Grand Forks. Omaha came on strong in Friday’s third period and fired nine shots at UND goaltender T.J. Semptimphelter, who made a number of key saves.
Myles Hilman cut the deficit in half with 8:24 left and the Mavs continued buzzing in the final minutes, yet UND held on for a 3-1 win. However, Omaha came out firing on all cylinders in the finale.
Cam Mitchell scored 11:11 in, Sam Stange made it 2-0 at the 19:25 mark and Omaha added a pair of early second-period goals, courtesy of Harrison Israels and Tanner Ludtke – who both returned from injuries.
Sacha Boisvert and Owen McLaughlin answered for UND, yet Omaha scored three of the game’s final four goals. Israels netted his second of the period with just 21 seconds left, followed by third-period tallies from Brady Risk and Stange.
Omaha secured a fourth-place finish with the 7-3 win and finished the regular season at 18-15-1, including a 14-9-1 mark in NCHC play. The Mavs went 11-6-1 in the second half and will try to keep the momentum going into the postseason.
This weekend will be Omaha’s second playoff series at Baxter Arena and its fourth time hosting since joining the NCHC for the 2013-14 season. Omaha hosted Denver (2014) and St. Cloud State (2015) at CenturyLink Center but dropped both series.
Omaha’s past playoff struggles are well-documented, yet the Mavs broke through last spring. Despite falling 4-3 in Game 1, Omaha responded with two wins in Colorado Springs, beat UND in the semifinals and advanced to the NCHC Championship Game – falling to the eventual national champion, Denver.
At the same time, that past history means little to this current Omaha club, especially with a roster that features 14 players that are new to the program this season.
There’s plenty of excitement being back at Baxter Arena too, where Omaha won 10 of its final 12 home games this season.
“I think it’s going to be a really exciting weekend,” Israels said. “I mean, the place is going to be packed. There’s a ton of energy coming from our locker room, the fans, and you can kind of feel it. So, I think it’s going to be a really fun couple of games to watch.”
Omaha and North Dakota played a home-and-home in each of the NCHC’s first 11 seasons, dating back to the league’s inaugural 2013-14 season. That streak came to an end this winter, although UND will make a trip to Omaha this season after all.
Especially after going head-to-head last weekend, the Mavs know it’s a team with plenty of talent and this weekend will be a battle.
“We know they’re a good team,” Gabinet said. “They’ve shown it all season long. There’s lots of talent on that roster and you’ve got to play a certain way to be successful, and that’s where our focus is at right now.”
UND went 9-7-1 on the road during the regular season and its power play continues to rank among the nation’s best, currently seventh (25.5%). Jayden Perron and Dane Montgomery returned last weekend and E.J. Emery remains day-to-day.
Despite getting pulled on Saturday, Semptimphelter has been solid. The ASU transfer is the NCHC’s reigning Goalie of the Month and made 27 saves last Friday. Sacha Boisvert has also scored in six straight and was a unanimous selection on the NCHC’s All-Rookie Team this week.
UND defenseman Jake Livanavage also received First-Team All-NCHC honors on Wednesday while Omaha had a pair of players make the All-NCHC Teams: Simon Latkoczy (First Team) and Sam Stange (Second Team).
https://x.com/omahahky/status/1899899535066873867?s=46
Number to know: 30 – The team that has scored first has won 30 of the last 35 meetings between the Mavericks and Fighting Hawks, including both games last weekend.
Player to Watch: Harrison Israels, Gr., F – Israels scored twice last Saturday and added an assist. His absence was noticeable against ASU, especially in the faceoff circle, and his line had been tremendous with Myles Hilman and Brady Risk. A dependable center is invaluable at this time of year and Israels has produced too. He has 17 points (7-10-17) over his last 16 games.
Series prediction: Omaha wins series, 2-1
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