The Huskies (11-1-2) come into the weekend to face the Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks (4-8-2) riding an eight game unbeaten streak but the feel from last weekend is more of a letdown than being excited from keeping that streak going.

The Huskies went to Oxford, Ohio and hit a RedHawks team in stride. The RedHawks were with St. Cloud in every step of the game. The games both officially ended in a tie but the two teams split extra NCHC points.

The Huskies picked up one on Friday in the Shootout and the RedHawks picked one up on Saturday when they scored in the 3-on-3 overtime.

The Mavericks come into the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center on a less than stellar campaign so far. They have key sweep against Arizona State and key wins against Western Michigan and Miami (OH).

The Mavericks are led by senior forward Mason Morelli, freshman Taylor Ward and senior Steven Spinner. On the offensive end the Mavericks rank near the bottom on the conference. Morelli and Ward won NCHC Player of the Month and NCHC Rookie of the Month, respectively, for November.

Morelli has 9 goals and 9 assists on the season and Ward has 5 goals and 8 assists this season. Spinner was an offensive force before he came to Omaha but in his four years he has left you wanting more and this season is the same with only 4 points in 13 games.

Nebraska-Omaha has a veteran backstop in senior Evan Weninger. Weninger is having his worst season of his college career statistically. He comes in sporting a 4.05 GAA and a .885 save percentage.

He has seen the Huskies a ton of his four years and the Mavericks have to hope that helps him or the Huskies firepower will make this a long weekend.

Hometown connection is senior defenseman Jimmy Schuldt’s younger brother, John, who will suit up for the Mavericks and freshman Travis Kothenbeutel who returns home, as he is a Sauk Rapids native.

Freshman Sam Hentges returned to the lineup last weekend at Miami (OH) after missing two games to a lower body injury. He was a top line winger before the injury but the strong play of sophomore Easton Brodzinski in his place has push Hentges to the fourth line.

This will be a story line to watch with the break coming up but the path back up for Hentges is blocked right now. I expect Coach Larson to keep him down the lineup and wait for a possible slump out of one of his wingers. If that happens, Hentges will be waiting to jump in that spot.

The Huskies got the wakeup call they needed last weekend in Oxford and that should make them focus on this series. The Huskies are a better team all around then the Mavericks and there is no way to beat around that bush.

They should come out and kill every facet of the games. This series should be a good opportunity for the Huskies to flow into the holiday break on a 10 game unbeaten streak and I expect them to do so.

NOTES:

-Ryan Poehling was named to the preliminary roster for the USA World Junior Team this week.

-Tyler Anderson is no longer wearing a cast on his hand but we probably won’t see him in suit up until the exhibition game on Dec. 27.