Notre Dame hockey has had success regardless of the venue during the past three seasons, the best in the program's history. The team hopes to continue its winning ways away from home this weekend as Jackson and Co. take on the University of Nebraska-Omaha Maverics in Omaha, Nebraska.

The Irish are coming off of an impressive weekend, as the offense exploded with 9 goals against Northern Michigan in the Friday night game at the JACC. A rare poor defensive effort was thankfully overshadowed by stellar special teams play. The power play unit was 6 of 8 with the man advantage while limiting NMU to 1 power play goal in 4 chances.

Saturday’s game went much differently. The Irish limited the Wildcats to 19 shots on goal, seeming much more prepared than the night before. They controlled most of the game, pulling out to a 4-0 lead by the five minute mark of the second period. Again, the special teams play dominated, killing all six penalties while scoring four PPGs.

The team will be on the road for three out of the final four games of the season. This weekend, The Icers head to Omaha, Nebraska, to play the UNO Mavericks in a CCHA divisional match up.

The Irish currently lead the conference with 40 points (17-4-3-3 record) with four more games to play. They have a 4 point lead on second place Miami of Ohio and can essentially clinch the regular season CCHA crown with a sweep of UNO and Miami being swept by NMU. This is very unlikely. Nevertheless, ND has clinched a first round bye in the CCHA playoffs and is contending for the number 1 seed.

UNO, on the other hand, would currently be the 6 seed with 26 conference points. The only problem is that the games against ND are their only remaining conference games. Being swept by ND would greatly debilitate any chance of hosting a first round playoff series.

You can bet that it is going to be a chippy, intense series. UNO is backed by one of the most enthusiastic fan bases in college hockey, believe it or not. The game will also be played at the Omaha Civic Auditorium and not at the Qwest Center. Despite the capacity being a few thousand less, it’s going to be much louder.

This will be as close as you can get to a playoff atmosphere. Milk jugs and cowbells will be ringing. Can the Irish get it done away from the JACC?

For the Irish to win:

Quiet the crowd early. Nothing takes the life out of a crowd more than an early goal and suffocating defensive play- both of which the Irish are quite capable of doing.

Fight Pressure with Pressure. Take the pressure off of goalie Jordan Pearce to be spectacular. All of NCAA hockey knows how capable the Hobey Baker hopeful is of making the big save. Instead, pressure the puck handler. Force quick decisions. In the defensive system the Irish run, this usually means turnovers.

Special, Special Teams. The PP and PK units must continue to execute. Penalties are going to be inevitable in a series of this intensity. Minimize shorthanded chances by not taking bad penalties. Make sure the front of the net is clear. Also, capitalize on the man advantage. It made was difference against NMU, and could most certainly be the x-factor in this series.

Nebraska-Omama wins if:

They are too fast and furious. The Irish have had trouble against fast, physical teams such as Miami and Ohio State. I know this is an obvious statement, but if UNO wins the physical battles, controls the tempo, and just outplays ND, they could squeak it out.

They force bad penalties. ND’s penalty-killing has been superb as of late. But you don’t want to play with fire too many times. Getting under the Irish’s skin could go a long way… or it could back fire and cause a Herculean offensive outburst (see NMU and BGSU)

They overachieve. Hey, even average players can get hot. A goalie can have a 40 save night or the fourth line can score a couple of times. Maybe UNO’s defense can hold our offense for a period or two. An overachieving game could result in a much needed UNO win. 

-JR.