OMAHA, Neb. — Hubert H. Humphrey once famously said — while advocating for the presence of major league sports in the market — that the Twin Cities would become a “cold Omaha” without pro teams around. The Metrodome, of course, would come to be a few years after Humphrey’s death, and the presence of pro sports in Minneapolis and St. Paul has only grown since then, thanks to the Wild filling the void after the North Stars left, and the market gaining teams in the NBA (Timberwolves), WNBA (Lynx), and MLS (Minnesota United FC).
Humphrey never explained, however, what happens when Omaha is cold.
Unseasonably cold temperatures Thursday here (high around 15, the normal high is in the low 30s) greeted your humble correspondent upon his arrival. The typical Nebraska wind has returned with Friday’s warmer temps, so it’s basically evening out.
Not a complaint (it’s not like I need to be out in it). Just an observation. And a chance for me to reference the famous Humphrey quote. Why do I get the sneaking suspicion the late, great Sid Hartman is somehow involved in it?
Anyway, should be a good series. This is an Omaha team desperate to get some points. The Mavericks are tied for sixth in the league, and they’re staring at a remaining 14 games where the “easiest” games (on paper, at least, and we all know hockey games aren’t played on paper, especially in this league) are on the road (Colorado College and Miami). Home ice might ride on Omaha getting something out of this weekend.
Meanwhile, UMD is still looking at the league title being in front of it. Yes, there’s a gap to make up. But the Bulldogs know someone is going to get hot in the second half, and while it’s more often than not been the team that starts hot in the league (which was North Dakota this year), anything is possible. UMD still has St. Cloud State four times (assuming the Jan. 7-8 games get made up, and we’ve heard nothing to make us think they won’t be), and the Bulldogs face Denver on the road but get UND and Western Michigan at home. It’s a tough schedule, yes, but UMD is hopeful that some continuity will help get other parts of the game going.
It might start with the power play, which is still hitting at just 15 percent on the season. There were signs of life last weekend, with more shots and better play-making, even if it didn’t cash in but once on eight tries in the Miami series. There’s little time for moral victories, however, and the next necessary sign of progress is cashing in on the opportunities. UMD has scored more than one power play goal in a game just once in 22 games this season (Nov. 12 vs. Colorado College). Can the aforementioned continuity help the power play take a step at a really important point in the season?
We’re about to find out. Together. Talk to you at 6:30.
Lines?
Lines.
UMD forwards
Cates – Gilling – Roth
Olson – James – Biondi
Bender – Jacques – Laderoute
Kleven – Loney – Loheit
UMD defense
Anderson – Roehl
Kaiser – Gotz
Gallatin – Kelley
Lellig
UMD goalies
Fanti – Patt
Omaha forwards
Berg – Primeau – Ward
Weiss – Mueller – McManus
Conley – Glynn – Bremer
Randl – Sullivan – Miller
Omaha defense
Scanlin – Mancini
Knoepke – Krenzen
Proctor – Tychonick
Pennington
Omaha goalies
Saville – Roden – Zab
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