Series Preview: Mavs Return Home For Battle With The Bulldogs

Omaha saw its point streak end at seven (6-0-1) Saturday night, as the Mavs were handed an 11-2 loss at No. 5 Denver.

While the loss put a damper on some of Omaha’s recent momentum, it’s been quite the stretch, as Omaha is 7-2-1 since the calendar flip and 9-1-2 over its past 12 NCHC contests. The Mavs also remain third in the NCHC standings with 31 points and control their own destiny as it pertains to home ice.

Now they’ll look to get back in the win column this weekend as Minnesota Duluth comes to town for Omaha’s penultimate home series.

Here’s what you need to know before the puck drops.

Omaha (14-11-1, 10-5-1) vs. Minnesota Duluth (10-13-1, 6-8-0)

Game 1: Friday, Feb. 7, 7:07 p.m. CDT
Game 2: Saturday, Feb. 8, 7:07 p.m. CDT
*Both games played at Baxter Arena

Omaha
Conference: NCHC
Head coach: Mike Gabinet (8th season, 132-125-18)
Leading scorer: Sam Stange, Gr., F (11-10-21)
Between the pipes: Simon Latkoczy, Jr. (11-10-1, .927 save percentage, 2.51 GAA)
Power Play: 17/90 (18.9%)
Penalty Kill: 54/67 (80.6%)
PairWise Ranking: 33rd

Minnesota Duluth
Conference: NCHC
Head coach: Scott Sandelin (25th season, 466-401-102)
Leading scorer: Dominic James, Sr., F (10-11-21)
Between the pipes: Klayton Knapp, Fr. (5-4-1, .915 save percentage, 2.37 GAA)
Power Play: 19/89 (21.3%)
Penalty Kill: 56/72 (77.8%)
PairWise Ranking: 37th

All-time series: UMD leads, 29-14-4
Last matchup: Feb. 3, 2024 – Omaha 4-3 win at Baxter Arena

Last Time Out

Omaha allowed 11 goals for just the second time in program history Saturday night at Magness Arena – the other coming during Omaha’s inaugural 1997-98 season.

Brady Risk and Harrison Israels gave Omaha an early 2-0 lead yet Mike Gabinet’s club allowed 11 answered goals over the final 45 minutes – six of which came in the second period – en route to the humbling loss. Omaha was out-shot 28-14 over the final 40 minutes and Simon Latkoczy allowed a career-high seven goals before giving way to Kevin Reidler for the third.

However, the weekend was far from a total loss, as Omaha skated to a 3-3 tie and earned the extra point in a 16-round shootout on Friday. Sam Stange, Liam Watkins and Brock Bremer scored in regulation, Nolan Krenzen delivered the 16th-round heroics and Latkoczy made 39 saves, along with 13 more in the shootout.

Make no mistake, nobody is happy with Saturday’s result, but the Mavs will take Friday’s points and look to get back on track this weekend.

“We’ve got to look at where we can be better at,” Gabinet said Wednesday afternoon. “Obviously there’s room for growth and you can’t sweep (Saturday’s loss) under the rug completely, but you also have to be good at moving on from things like that and whether it’s a one-goal loss or the loss like we had, it’s a loss. So we’ve got to move on and get better but you also have to reflect back and learn from it and grow from it.”

Opponent Watch

The Bulldogs come to Omaha fresh off a bye, and UMD split with Denver the week prior. Scott Sandelin’s club touts arguably the nation’s top freshmen class and while they sit seventh in the NCHC standings, they’ve won four of their past six conference matchups – sweeping St. Cloud State and splitting against DU at home, and UMD split a series at Colorado College.

UMD has allowed two goals or less in seven of its past nine and Sandelin’s club has gotten solid goaltending from freshman Klayton Knapp, who has emerged as the starter.

Freshman forward Max Plante is on a tear too, as the Detroit pick has 14 points (6-8-14) through 11 games this season, including goals in six of his past eight. Anthony Menghini has also scored in two of his past three games and ranks second on UMD’s roster with nine goals.

“They’re a very young team, very talented team,” Gabinet said. “They have (10 NHL) draft picks on their roster, so you can tell they have the elite talent there, and I think they’re kind of finding their way a little bit as well. But just watching their last couple of games, they went toe-to-toe with Denver, so we know what type of opponent they are coming in here and we’ll have to be ready to go.”

Omaha swept UMD last February at Baxter Arena and has won five straight home games in the all-time series, scoring 23 goals over those five wins.

Omaha had a 12-game winless stretch (0-11-1) against the Bulldogs – March 3, 2018 – Jan. 21, 2022 – but is 7-2-0 over the nine games since. Omaha has also won seven of its last eight on home ice this season.

Latkoczy Named NCHC Goalie of the Month

Simon Latkoczy was named the NCHC Goalie of the Month earlier this week, earning his second career monthly award. The junior finished January 5-1-1 and posted a .943 save percentage and 1.99 GAA in the month. His five January wins were tied for the NCHC lead and fourth in the nation, and Latkoczy’s 233 saves led the NCHC and ranked nationally.

Latkoczy is now 11-10-1 on the season with a .927 save percentage and 2.51 GAA.

“It’s a nice award to get and I think that we had a good January as a team,” Latkoczy said. “Usually that reflects back on the goalie but it was definitely with the help of my teammates and I appreciate that award.”

“Simon has put together an unbelievable month in net, and I could not be more proud of his achievements,” Gabinet added. “The way Simon carries himself on and off the ice, this should not surprise anyone who knows how hard he works to be successful.”

Final Verdict

Number to know: 7 – Risk and Israels both scored on the man advantage Saturday night, giving Omaha seven power-play goals over its past six games. Omaha’s power-play struggles have been a topic all season but the Mavs went 3-for-6 in Denver and are 7-for-17 over their past six.

Player to Watch: Liam Watkins, Fr., F – Watkins played arguably his best game as a Maverick on Friday and was rewarded with his second career goal. The freshman continues to get more involved offensively and also had his best faceoff showing Saturday night, winning seven of his 10 draws.

Series prediction: Omaha Sweep