Premium ContentMouse over Home then click on Premium Content for information.Trying to put into perspective the weight of UNO's series this weekend at Michigan Tech requires mathematics and linguistics.
The Mavericks and Huskies are among three teams tied for fifth in the WCHA with four weekends left in the season. The separation between third-place Colorado College and eighth-place St. Cloud State is all of six points. And only the top six teams earn home-ice advantage for the first round of the league playoffs.
"Home ice is on the line," University of Nebraska at Omaha forward Ryan Walters said. "And this weekend is huge. Games are only worth two points, but if you win it's almost like getting four — because they aren't getting any. We could jump higher in the standings and give us a comfortable lead."
After a midseason lull, surprising Michigan Tech is back in the home-ice playoff picture after getting three points at then-No. 1 Minnesota-Duluth and picking up a road split last weekend at Minnesota State-Mankato.
Home-ice contention is unusual for the resurgent Huskies, who haven't played a home playoff series since 1993 and — at 13-13-2 — are two wins short of matching their win total for the previous three years combined.
A near-capacity crowd is expected each night at MacInnes Ice Arena for the centerpiece attraction of Michigan Tech's annual Winter Carnival in Houghton, Mich.
First-year coach Mel Pearson looks at his team's remaining schedule — with weekends at North Dakota (tied for fifth) and Colorado College sandwiching a home series with home-ice contender St. Cloud State — and identifies this weekend as crucial.
"This is our biggest series of the year," he said. "Maybe not for UNO as much as it is for us. We have to make hay this weekend to have any chance at home ice. ... I can't even state how big it is. It's the biggest the program has had in a long time — not to put any pressure on our kids, right?"
UNO coach Dean Blais would argue — probably successfully — that the Mavs' finishing stretch against Michigan Tech, at Colorado College, then home with first-place Minnesota and fourth-place Denver is as difficult as it comes for playoff contenders.
But his young team, despite playing up and down for much of the season, has been at least reasonably successful on the road at 4-4-2 in WCHA play.
"We've actually lost a couple on the road that we think we should have won," forward Jayson Megna said.
The Mavs gave up a goal with 59 seconds left in regulation and had to settle for a tie at Bemidji State on Nov. 11. They squandered a 3-0 first-period lead and settled for a tie at Denver on Nov. 19. And they lost in overtime at Minnesota State on Jan. 21. That's three potential road points that would have UNO sitting in a third-place tie rather than fifth.
But it's not the results as much as the inconsistent weekends that bothers the Mavs.
"You get excited going into a different atmosphere, but we've also struggled on the road by playing one good game and following it up with a bad game, or by playing a bad game and following it up with a good one," defenseman Bryce Aneloski said.
Blais was as upset with his team as he's been all season last weekend after a 6-4 home loss to Bemidji State capped a one-point weekend. Two quick goals allowed after UNO goals. Undisciplined third-period penalties while trying to make a comeback.
"We've talked about locking things down," Megna said. "There are some things that happen in games that you can't control. You've just got to stay positive and stay focused."
Blais is still seeking more consistent offensive production from sources outside Terry Broadhurst (16 goals-16 assists-32 points) and Matt White (13-21-34). Those two were on the ice for all four of UNO's goals Saturday. Broadhurst had two goals and two assists.
"We've got other good hockey players," Blais said. "Who's coming through?
"We get results in practice, why shouldn't it transfer from practice to games? Maybe they get nervous. Some players play better in games than in practice, and that's what we need ... or we're going to be on the road that first weekend."
Contact the writer:
402-444-1027, rob.white@owh.com
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