Entering what coach Dan Morris calls 'playoff season,' the Ohio hockey team is beginning to prepare for what will be the toughest part of its schedule.
With a two-game series against Lidenwood (No. 1 American Collegiate Hockey Association standings) beginning Friday, Ohio forward John Luciana said the team is practicing with game-intensity each time they take the ice.
We've got tough games so we have to make sure we're ready to play
Morris said. Practice is a little more intense because there's a little more at stake every week.
This week, Morris said the team's biggest focus would be attention to detail and game planning for the Lions, who have lost only twice all season.
Morris said the most difficult thing about preparing for a team such as Lindenwood is its ability to make in-game adjustments.
You've got to be prepared for what they're going to do he said. They don't give you many holes so we can't give them any holes either. Everything we've been working on this year
we've got to put into practice over the next couple weeks.
Luciana stressed the importance of the power play as a key to take down a team as talented as Lindenwood.
When you play good teams
five-on-five hockey is even so it comes down to odd-man rushes and quick shots
he said. That means taking advantage of power plays but also staying out of the box because they're a good enough team that they're going to capitalize on every chance they get.
WINNER GETS FIRST
Adding to the importance of this weekend's series is the fact that it's against a team Ohio has battled for the league championship during the past three seasons.
With 44 points apiece, the Bobcats and Lions are tied atop the Central States Collegiate Hockey League standings, and Morris said his team knows the significance of these games.
We have three league series leading into our conference tournament
and we always put a priority on league games
he said. Basically the winner of this weekend wins the league.
Luciana echoed his coach.
These games are worth six points. If you start to lose these games
you can go down easily
he said.
With last weekend's series sweep of Indiana, Ohio has pushed its win streak to 15 games, but Luciana said the streak is not something the team is thinking about.
We're just taking it one game at a time
one period at a time
