Rest may be what the doctor ordered, but the only rest the Bobcats have in mind is the rest of the regular season.
Ohio (32-7-3, 17-2-2 Central States Collegiate Hockey League) plays its final two regular-season games this weekend against the Adrian Bulldogs.
The Bobcats are hoping to get healthy before next weekend's American Collegiate Hockey Association National Championships. But with a short bench, the Bobcats cannot afford to rest any healthy players.
It's whatever we've got left
coach Dan Morris said. The only healthy scratch we make is our backup goalie. Everybody else we play.
The Bulldogs (25-11-1) come to town with an irresolvable chip on their shoulder: Kent State edged them out to take the last bid for the national tournament.
Adrian now faces the task of trying to prove it was worthy of receiving the final bid while hoping to establish a high ranking in the 2010-2011 ACHA preseason rankings.
If they come in and beat us they deserve to be in the top 10 in the preseason rankings Morris said.
Morris said the final national tournament berth came down to head-to-head play and the record against common opponents. Adrian and Kent State split their season series, but Kent had a marginal edge over their common opponents, going 11-4-1 compared to Adrian's 11-5-0 mark.
The big difference was the teams' records against Lindenwood. Kent split its series while Adrian dropped all three games against the top-ranked Lions.
Adrian plays a similar style to Central Oklahoma, Morris said.
They've got a little bit more high-end talent but not as level
but they work just as hard
he said.
That talent has shone through recently. Adrian has scored at least six goals in each of its last seven games. During the streak, the Bulldogs scored 16 goals against North Dakota State and put up a 17-spot on John Carroll.
Morris hopes to neutralize Adrian's attack with the energy of its reserves.
You've got to rely on the guys that maybe don't get to play all the time and try to build off them and built off their energy and their excitement for being in games
he said.
This weekend will mark the final home series for seniors Paul Marshall, Ryan Tessmer, Justin Farmer and injured captain Phil Oberlin. Tomorrow is Senior Night at Bird Arena.
It's a big event for them
Morris said. The ones that will be in the lineup are all fifth-year guys
so they've been redshirted at some point.
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