UNO vs. UND, Expect an Angry Mavericks Team

This weekend, the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks entertain the University of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks. Yep, the new nickname, booing aside, UND is 9-1-0 under the new nickname.

I have been skimming social media today and I am seeing a lot of predictions of UND sweeping the Mavericks and sending them back down I-29 with their tails between their legs. Hey, that’s a great prediction, but history tells me a split.

The reality is, UNO has had some success in Grand Forks, ND. In the eight games that UND has played against the Mavericks at the REA. UND has yet to sweep the Mavericks on home ice. The Mavericks are 3-4-1 against UND at REA.

Last season, UND took four-of-six points from the Mavericks. Ironically, UND lost the shootout. All-time, UND is 0-2 in the shootout. IRC, I don’t think that UND has even scored a goal in their two shootouts.

How we got here. Last weekend, UNO was swept by the DU Pioneers (0-3 L, 3-4 L). I can imagine that UNO is going to be in a foul mood this weekend. With former UND head coach Dean Blais at the helm, UND is walking into a buzz saw. Obviously, head coach Brad Berry will have the Hawks ready to play this weekend.

Skimming UNO’s press clippings, Blais is already lowering expectation for the weekend.

“That’s one of the teams that you don’t want to exchange opportunities with,” Blais told the World-Herald. “A lot of teams I’d exchange goal-scoring opportunities because of the talent that we have. With North Dakota, we have to win a 3-2 game. The first one to three, I think, is going to win that game.

“We can’t go up and think we’re going to out-talent North Dakota. We have to outwork them.”

All of the bravo sierra aside, Blais is coming to Grand Forks, ND, with the expectation that his team is going to sweep UND. He’s going to pull out all of the stops. You’re going to see a lot of after the whistle stuff this weekend. UND is going to have to be ready for this, from the drop of the first puck. This should be an epic battle between two great hockey teams. See you at the Ralph.

Series History

This is relatively a new series, and the two teams have only played 16 times. The first game between the two teams took place on Nov. 19, 2010. UND won the first game, 6-5, on Omaha’s home ice. All-time, UND holds the edge in the series 9-6-1, (.594). In the last 10 games, UND has a 6-3-1 (.650) record against the Mavericks.

Series prediction

I wrote in another column, this weekend, the safe bet is a series split. Historically, there’s been only one series sweep between the two teams, UND swept UNO (2-1 W, 5-2 W) on Feb. 8-9, 2013, in Omaha, Nebraska. Last season, UND took four-of-six points against the Mavericks in Grand Forks, ND. Every other series between the two teams has been a split. Finally, no team has won more than three games in a row.