The CSU Collegian // The Rams face-off against the Buffs

This article has been updated to reflect the rankings released by the ACHA at 2:27PM on 1/22/20.

Game cancellations are no fun, right? Let’s get into the season-opening series.

The #16 Oklahoma (14-4-0), (8-4-0 WCHL) Sooners’ first three games vs. the Centennial teams was well documented. An injection of new personnel into the lineup may not be, so let’s walk through it.

Familiar faces Aharon Lara and Hunter Lane will be available at some point this semester, and I have word that Lane may try to play on Friday vs. Colorado. Neither forward was dressed for that early November series in Fort Collins +  Boulder and they surely shall be a welcomed source of energy to a team that was supposed to play last week until inclement weather conditions pushed the semester opening games to Thursday, Jan. 23.

The Rams and Buffs just combined to go 0-3-0 against (unranked) Syracuse, and it wasn’t all that close. (5-2, 5-2, 6-3). Add in how WCHL #1 Arizona just banked two more conference wins on 1/17 and 1/18 and it sort of feels like Oklahoma must win all three.

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As was mentioned in my recap article and through live coverage, the Sooners really only had one normal game in their Colorado trip. As the headline states, the Rams/Buffs will be the ones that are subject to having “bus legs” if you will. That was what Coach Berge said could have been the culprit in falling behind 4-1 to the Buffs. Of course, the night after, Oklahoma dispatched of the Rams 5-2 before a series of 1st-period ejections was the precursor to ultimately falling to the Rams 4-3.

A recap of the first Sooners-Rams game. Click here.

The Sooners’ last home game was electric and full of emotion. They collected their first home win against UCO since the year 2016. It wasn’t easy either; a 2-1 deficit in the middle of the 2nd period was erased by Josh Pusar, and another goal would wait to go in until the 19:42 mark of period 3. In this split, the Sooners will play the Buffs twice and Rams once (the previous series was the other way around). As I had written in an article that never made it to the press, the “rest vs. rust” theory may come into play here as the Colorado teams just played and Oklahoma not since Dec. 6, 2019.

Along those lines, my key to Thursday’s game is getting to Joe Morgan early. We know him to be a quality goaltender (one that allowed an average of 1 goal per period in their win over OU) and one that can step up when the Rams need it. Scoring on one of your first two or three (and let’s be honest, it will probably be in the 1st period) powerplays can go a long way towards crafting an insurmountable game.

As for Colorado it’s a known fact where their record stands. They’ve had a rough go at it. They played well on home ice that night in Boulder, though. I think Grant Payne deserved some credit.

PROJECTED STARTERS

Thursday, Jan. 23 (Colorado State)

Babb vs. Morgan

Friday, Jan. 24 (Colorado)

Babb vs. Payne

Saturday, Jan. 25 (Colorado)

Hawkes vs. Payne

Coaches’ Corner, Semester preview, De Sousa feature; click here.

Cover photo is credited to the Rocky Mountain Collegian. You can follow them at collegian.com.

Thanks for reading.