At 7-4-3 in the WCHA, the University of Nebraska at Omaha looks like a team with plenty of possibilities.

But at 9-8-3 overall, the Mavericks rank only 26th in the Pairwise ratings, which are indicative of where teams could be spending the postseason — whether it's in the 16-team NCAA tournament or not.

The Mavs' 2-4 nonconference record could come back to bite them in March. That makes this weekend's final nonconference series with Quinnipiac — with games Friday at 7:37 p.m. and Saturday at 2:07 p.m. — even more critical.

"I'd like to say there's not any difference (between preparing for WCHA games and nonconference games), but with the results we've had the last few nonconference games, you've got to look at it and say there is," UNO captain Terry Broadhurst said. "I think it's kind of a mentality issue.

"Obviously this (series) doesn't help us in the standings, but as far as the NCAA tournament goes, and getting off to a good start in the second half ... we're treating these games as big ones, just like the North Dakota weekend or any other big weekend we've had."

Quinnipiac is 11-6-3 overall and sits third in the ECAC at 3-4-3. The Bobcats are 21st among teams receiving votes for the USCHO.com Top 20. UNO is 29th.

"We all know what we're playing for and what we're here for, so it shouldn't be any different," defenseman Andrej Sustr said of the Mavs' nonconference predicament. "This weekend is definitely big for us. If we get two wins this weekend, that'll help because they would be two quality wins."

Last year, in the first meetings between the programs, Quinnipiac earned a pair of one-goal victories in Hamden, Conn.

So, while there isn't as much first-hand knowledge against many nonconference teams, there is at least some history to draw upon with the Bobcats.

"You don't know as much about some of the teams you play in nonconference," defenseman Bryce Aneloski said. "With Quinnipiac, we just have to go off what we remember and try to learn from it.

"It's kind of a redemption opportunity, a chance to show that this team is different than we were last year and that we can take some steps to be better in the second half."

What the Mavs remember most of Quinnipiac might be goalie Eric Hartzell turning aside 53 shots in the Bobcats' 4-3 win and making 44 saves in a 3-2 victory. UNO outshot Quinnipiac 102-62 in the series but came home empty-handed.

Hartzell is 5-3-3 this season, ranks 11th in the country with a 1.98 goals-against average and has a .911 save percentage. Fellow goaltender Dan Clarke is no slouch either at 6-3 with a 2.05 GAA and .901 save percentage.

"They have very good goaltending," said forward Broadhurst, who's tied for fourth in the country with 14 goals. "If we give him confidence early in the game, it's going to be a long night for us. We've got to make him fight to save pucks. We've got to get in front of him and screen him and put hard shots on him — we can't just be hitting him in the belly all night."

UNO skates this weekend without coach Dean Blais and winger Josh Archibald, who are with Team USA at the World Juniors tournament. The games will also be UNO's first without center Alex Hudson, dismissed earlier this month for a second violation of team rules. The Mavs haven't played since splitting a series at North Dakota on Dec. 9 and 10.

"The sport of hockey is about minutes, and those two ate up some significant minutes in a variety of roles," said associate head coach Mike Hastings, directing the team in Blais' absence. "We need some guys to pick up the minutes as we redistribute them. Some guys go from a fourth-line role to a third-line role, and some from a third to a second. They're athletes, and there's an opportunity there, which is hard to come by at this time of year. I think that's created an excitement."

Quinnipiac's Jeremy Langlois is tied for eighth nationally with 12 goals, and he and Broadhurst are among those tied for second in the country with six power-play goals.

"We've got to be good defensively, but we've also got to be the aggressor, take the game to them and not sit back," Aneloski said. "If we skate, I don't think this team will be able to stay with us."

Are those challenging words Aneloski would rather not have uttered?

"That's how you have to feel," Aneloski said. "You've got to feel like, if you have good team speed, that you can take the game to them. They can skate, too, but coach says our speed is what separates us from other teams."

If nothing else, the Mavs have thought this series through.

"Maybe we've taken some nonconference games lightly," Broadhurst said. "But it's not going to happen this weekend."

Contact the writer:

402-444-1027, rob.white@owh.com

twitter.com/RWhiteOWH

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