Hosts Jim Connelly (@jimmyconnelly) and Ed Trefzger (@EdTrefzger) are joined by No. 9 Omaha head coach Mike Gabinet to preview this weekend's home series vs. No. 2 North Dakota. We discuss this year's Mavericks, their steady improvement, and how they dealt mentally with the extended pause after the semester break.

Also of note this weekend in league play are the Hockey East home-and-home series between No. 10 UMass and No. 16 UMass Lowell, No. 18 Michigan Tech at No. 8 Bowling Green in the WCHA, and a trio of Big Ten matchups.

Non-conference games include No. 3 Minnesota State at Bemidji State – which is fresh off a sweep of Bowling Green last weekend – and No. 11 Quinnipiac hosting LIU.

And after weekend meetings juggling the schedule for the rest of the season, Atlantic Hockey prepares for a nearly full slate of games.