Omaha vs. Providence: It's Been Awhile

One phrase may sum up Thursday's Frozen Four semifinal match up between Nebraska Omaha and Providence College: It's been awhile.

On one side of the ice, "it's been awhile" refers to a Friars squad that hasn't made it to college hockey's grandest stage since 1985.

On the other, the phrase refers to UNO's head coach, Dean Blais, who returns to the Frozen Four for the first time since 2001, while with North Dakota. Blais won two national championships with the Fighting Sioux in 1997 and 2000.

While there is some experience for both programs in some shape or form, the current incarnations of these UNO and PC squads are fresh to the national championship scene. Outside of their first run since 1985, it's the first appearance in the Frozen Four for Providence head coach Nate Leaman.

And while the Mavericks head coach may have the experience, this is UNO's first Frozen Four appearance in their 18-year history, after notching their program's first two tournament wins in the this year's Midwest Regional.

So, what should college hockey fans expect when the Friars and Mavericks get together in TD Garden in Boston on Thursday? A look at the nets tells the biggest story as Omaha's Ryan Massa and Providence's Jon Gillies are two of the best goaltenders that college hockey has to offer.

Here's a look at the two teams as they prep for their Frozen Four faceoff.

You Know UNO?

Players to Watch:

So. F, Jake Gunetzel, 13 goals, 25 assists --38 points
So. F, Austin Ortega, 20 g, 17 a -- 37 pts. 11 game-winning goals leads the NCAA.
Fr. F, Jake Randolph, 5 g, 21 a -- 26 pts

Sr. G, Ryan Massa, 14-7-6, .939 save percentage (best in NCAA), 1.92 goals against average (5th in NCAA)

Nebraska Omaha's Ryan Massa leads the NCAA in save percentage (.939)

Friars Flying High

Players to Watch:

Jr. F, Nick Saracino, 13 g, 22 a --35 pts
Sr. F, Shane Luke, 13 g, 18 a -- 31 pts
Jr. F, Noel Acciari, 14 g, 16 a -- 30 pts

Jr. G, Jon Gillies, 22-13-2, .929 SV PCT (12th in NCAA), 2.01 GAA (13th in NCAA)

PC's Jon Gilles  is in the Top 13 in the NCAA in goals against average and save percentage.

Standout Stats

Nebraska-Omaha:

11 players with at least 14 points.

13-3-1 when scoring first, 15-1-1 when leading after 2 periods

Providence:

14 players with at least 11 points.

2.05 goals against per game (5th in NCAA), 15.2% power play (40th in NCAA)

We've gotten a look at BU, Nebraska-Omaha and Providence. So, check in tomorrow for DDC's look at North Dakota and his picks for the semifinal match ups from Boston. We're just one day away, folks.

Friday Gameday: A Top 5 Tussle

This past Friday, the UND men’s hockey team was still reeling from a eye-opening home-and-home split at the hands of unranked Bemidji State and were staring down an important NCHC season-opening series in Colorado Springs.

What a difference a week makes.

A 3-1 and 7-2 win and a series sweep over Colorado College later, all things look right for No. 3 North Dakota heading into a pivotal non-conference series against No. 5 Providence tonight and Saturday from the Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks.

For the first time since 2011, the REA faithful welcome a Top 5 ranked team and the ranking is justified for the Friars. UND hasn't played Providence College since 1989.

GILLIES THE GREAT

Providence
Jr. G. Jon Gillies

Providence, the media’s preseason team to beat in Hockey East, is a veteran team that returns five 20-point forwards from last year’s squad that lost to eventual national champion Union in the East Region final.

Junior co-captains Ross Mauermann, the Friars leading scorer last year with 36 points (19g, 17a), and Noel Acciari (11g, 11a) pace the Providence offense.

However, it all starts between the pipes for Providence as junior stalwart Jon Gillies leads the Friars. An all-Hockey East preseason pick, Gillies was third in the nation last year in save percentage posting a miniscule .931.

The 6’5”, 215 pound and Mike Richter Award watch list goalie, Gillies looks more like an enforcer than a goaltender, but athletically, he’s as good as anyone in the country.

FIND A WEAKNESS

The Friars are 1-1 on the season following a non-conference split with Ohio State two weeks ago and an exhibition tie against the U.S. Under 18 team last Thursday.

If Providence sports a weakness at all, it may be on the blue line where since-departed Steven Shamanski and Kevin Hart led the team in minutes last season. That said, four regular contributors return, led by John Gilmour, and freshmen Jake Walman and Logan Day have made an early impact.

AWARD-WINNING WEEKEND

On the green and white side of the ice, UND seemed to get its offense rolling against Colorado College, netting 10 goals, five of which came from assistant captain Mark MacMillan.

After a two-goal performance in Friday’s 3-1 win, the senior centerman exploded for a five-point night including his first-career hat trick to pace a 7-2 UND blowout win. The seven-point weekend earned MacMillan NCHC offensive player of the week honors.

Joining MacMillan, sophomore defenseman Paul LaDue’s five-point (2g, 3a) weekend  earned him top defensive honors for the week in the NCHC.

North Dakota
Jr. G. Zane McIntyre

THE PICK

Ok, so DDC has talked about Gillies, the Friars offensive depth, UND’s increased offensive output and a Top 5 matchup, but what is he forgetting?

Zane McIntyre might have something to say about that.

After a shaky start got him yanked against in the season opener against Bemidji State, the junior netminder is 3-0 with a 1.33 goals against average and .953 save percentage.

What a matchup in between the pipes. Gillies and McIntyre. Gillies has never lost a game on consecutive nights in his Friar career. McIntyre has had it happen once. So, split, right?

UND laid an absolute egg in their first shot in front of their home crowd, getting dominated 5-1 against an unranked BSU. Since then, North Dakota has batten down the hatches defensively and found a way to score some goals. DDC thinks a hyped crowd could make the difference.

McIntyre has been lights out after the hiccup against the Beavers and DDC thinks he’s the difference this weekend as the green and white look to show the home crowd some love.

UND SWEEPS 2-0, 3-2.