Omaha hockey will look to get back in the win column and continue fighting for a playoff spot as the Mavericks visit Arizona State for their penultimate regular-season series.
ASU and Omaha are currently eighth and ninth in the NCHC standings. The top eight teams qualify for the postseason, putting six massive points on the line.
Here’s what you need to know before the puck drops in Tempe, Ariz.
Omaha (10-20-0, 6-14-0) at Arizona State (13-18-1, 6-13-1)
Game 1: Friday, 8 p.m. CDT
Game 2: Saturday, 6 p.m. CDT
*Both games played at Mullett Arena
Omaha
Conference: NCHC
Head Coach: Mike Gabinet (9th season, 145-151-19)
Top Scorer: Trevor Wong, So., F (5-12-17)
Between The Pipes: Simon Latkoczy, Sr. (6-12-0, .905 save percentage, 3.13 GAA)
Arizona State
Conference: NCHC
Head Coach: Greg Powers (11th season, 164-180-25)
Top Scorer: Bennett Schimek, Sr., F (11-27-38)
Between The Pipes: Connor Hasley, Sr. (9-9-0, .910 save percentage, 3.03 GAA)
All-time series: Omaha leads, 8-6-1
Last matchup: March 1, 2025 — Omaha 4-2 win in Omaha, Neb.
Last Time Out
The Mavericks turned in one of their best efforts of the season and went toe-to-toe with No. 8 Denver last Saturday, yet they ultimately fell short, 3-1.
Jeremy Loranger scored midway through the second period and the Mavs entered the final frame tied, only to see Denver’s Rieger Lorenz score 1:22 into the third. Jake Fisher added an empty-netter in the final minute as Omaha suffered its sixth sweep of the season. Denver earned a 5-2 win in Game 1.
Now the Mavericks will fight for their postseason lives, as Omaha heads to Arizona State — the team they’re chasing for the final NCHC playoff spot.
“You’ve just got to approach it like a playoff series,” said head coach Mike Gabinet. “Obviously very important games, we all know that, and trying to keep calm about it a little bit, but obviously there’s a lot of urgency, just like it would be for a playoff weekend. Everybody knows what’s at stake here and we’re preparing appropriately and making sure we’re doing everything in our power to give ourselves the best chance at success this weekend.”
“I think we’ve had three good days (of practice) here and going into ASU, it’s a playoff series,” added senior forward Tyler Rollwagen. “We’ve got to get some points and go in there just playing our game and focusing on us and what we can do.”
Join @OmahaHKY’s head coach @Mike_Gabinet and senior forward Tyler Rollwagen at 2:30 p.m. CT ahead of traveling to Tempe, Ariz. to face off against Arizona State from Feb. 20-21. https://t.co/zHfpZDQnOH
— Omaha Mavericks (@omavs) February 18, 2026
Omaha remains ninth in the NCHC standings with 18 points — one behind ASU, six behind Colorado College and seven behind Miami.
Omaha hosts Miami next weekend, while Arizona State finishes the regular season at Denver. Colorado College hosts Western Michigan and visits Minnesota Duluth for its final two series.
“This group has done a great job of showing up every day,” Rollwagen said. “I think Griffin (Ludtke) said it, but we hold the pen to our story. It’s all in our hands right now and there’s not a guy in that room that wouldn want it any other way.”
Tyler Rollwagen celebrates his goal against the UMass Minutemen at Baxter Arena on Oct. 24th, 2025. Photo by Collin Stilen.
Opponent Watch
Arizona State has dropped five straight and seven of its past eight. The Sun Devils were tabbed fourth in the NCHC Preseason Poll and entered the season ranked 14th nationally, but Greg Powers’ club has been decimated by injuries and struggled to find consistency.
ASU has been out-scored 116-95 this season, including a 22-12 mark during its five-game skid and 39-25 over its past eight. Bentley transfer Connor Hasley is 9-9-0 with a .910 save percentage and 3.03 GAA, while freshman Samuel Urban has also seen plenty of time in net.
Calgary Flames first-round pick Cullen Potter — an NCHC All-Rookie Team selection last spring — suffered a season-ending injury and has been sidelined since Jan. 10, despite still ranking third on the roster with 26 points.
However, the Arizona State lineup still includes several weapons, led by Cruz Lucius and Bennett Schimek. The seniors are tied for the team lead with 38 points each while Lucius leads the way with 12 goals. Junior Kyle Smolen also had three points (2-1-3) last weekend at Western Michigan and ranks fourth on the club with 18 points.
ASU’s power play ranks 14th nationally at 24%.
“They’re playing extremely hard and a little bit the story of our league,” Gabinet said. “Extremely talented roster and it’s kind of mind-boggling a little bit that you’ve got us, CC and ASU — In my opinion pretty good hockey teams — that are all right there. But they know the situation too, I’m sure, and it should be a hard-fought series.”
Arizona State is 4-1-0 all-time against Omaha in Tempe. The Sun Devils have earned eight of their 13 wins on home ice this season, too.
Griffin Ludtke (7) celebrates an overtime win with the student section during an exhibition game against Air Force on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. Photo by Dawson Anderson.
Final Verdict
Number to know: 3.6 — Arizona State allows 3.6 goals per game, which is tied for the nation’s ninth-highest mark. Omaha is right behind at 3.5.
Player to Watch: Griffin Ludtke, Sr., D — Ludtke recorded a point in three of his four games against ASU last season, including a goal and two assists. The senior captain is yet to light the lamp this season, but Ludtke ranks fourth on Omaha’s roster with 14 points. He had an assist in Saturday’s loss to Denver.
Series prediction: Split.
