OMAHA, Neb. — Nebraska-Omaha came into the night with the chance to have their best record in school history going into the New Year.
While Arizona State kept it interesting, the Mavericks got it done.
Following two first-period goals, including the game-winner by Austin Ortega, the No. 6 Mavericks beat the Sun Devils 3-1 for their 13th win of the year to stay undefeated against nonconference teams on home ice.
After what had been a lackluster power play for most of the season so far, the Mavericks made another step in the right direction early on. After Edward McGovern was called for tripping at 10:17 in the first, Luc Snuggerurd buried a shot from his own rebound for the first goal of the game.
However, the lead was short-lived as ASU answered less than a minute later when Jordan Masters took the puck from behind the net, wheeled around to Evan Weninger’s glove side and flipped a quick back-hander to the top of the net for the equalizer.
But near the end of the first, the Mavericks channeled their power-play mojo again as Austin Ortega roofed an odd-angled shot on Ryland Pashovitz’s glove side for the go-ahead score.
UNO put on the pressure from the get go, putting 21 shots on goal in the first period – a season high.
But the second period was a different story, when the Mavericks didn’t get a shot on net until more than nine minutes had elapsed.
“I think we came out a little bit timid and tentative, which you can’t do against a team like that,” said ASU coach Greg Powers. “But I think that second period was probably the best period we’ve played all year.”
After both sides skated scoreless the entire second period, things were still close in the third, with the Mavericks hanging on to just a one-goal lead. Again, Ortega gave the Mavericks the necessary breathing room with his 14th goal of the season just past the halfway point in the third. The score gave Ortega sole possession of the No. 2 spot in goals scored this season across the country.
It was also another power-play goal, giving UNO nine total in three of their last four games. Prior to that stretch, the Mavericks had only four power-play goals total.
“I think they’re just shooting a little bit more,” said Mavericks coach Dean Blais. “You tell them that you got to be a little selfish. When you get the shot, take it. Shoot the puck, get to the net, score a goal – that’s what we’ve been doing.”
Ortega emphasized the urgency of getting the power play back on track.
“I think we were just upset with the way we displayed our power play the first whatever games and I know we sat down with the coaches and they grilled us pretty hard about not being so well,” Ortega said. “But I think the key to our power play the last couple games is just working the puck around and moving, rather than just standing still and puck watching.”
The Mavericks had control the rest of third period.
Ortega’s game-winner was the 18th of his career, five short of tying the NCAA all-time record. It was also the most wins in program history before the New Year for the Mavericks. With Jake Guentzel and Fredrik Olofsson out for the game, it was indicative that the top line of Jake Randolph, Tyler Vesel and Ortega step up and deliver.
“This was a big game for us, big weekend and Christmas is right around the corner, but our eyes are still set on this weekend,” Vesel said. “And us being the top line tonight, I thought we played really well, cycled the puck down low and that kind of carried on to lines behind us and we were fortunate enough to get a couple of power-play goals and ended up with the win.”
A win Sunday would mean a nonconference sweep for the Mavericks. It also is another opportunity for the Sun Devils to make a statement as a growing team. Although with an early start on Sunday at 2:07 p.m., anything can happen.
“Our guys are in shape, they’re ready to go and quick turn arounds are sometimes good,” Powers said. “We’re a young team, so gives us less time to think about what just happened and just go right back out there. But more than anything, I think we have a room full of guys that know if we go, we can compete with anyone on any given night.”
