This Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, the Division I Razorbacks welcome the University of Oklahoma and the University of Central Oklahoma to the Jones Center. The Hogs enter the conference weekend having split a pair of games against Lindenwood-Belleville last weekend.  During the Friday night contest, the Razorbacks could not convert a 2-1 third period into a first-ever victory over the Lynx.  Rather, LIU-B notched four unanswered third period goals to solidify a 5-2 win.  The Razorbacks exacted revenge on Saturday with a 3-2 shootout win–the program’s first ever over the Lynx.

First up on Thursday night at 8:30 pm is #14 Oklahoma (13-6-5) who enters the weekend after being idle last weekend.  Oklahoma last tangled with WCHL conference rival Colorado on January 20 & 21 when the Sooners notched an overtime win in game one but then dropped the second game in the series by a 7-0 margin.

The Sooners and Razorbacks last met much earlier in the season when Oklahoma swept the Hogs in two exceptionally close games.  In a seesaw affair on September 30,  the Hogs jumped out to a 1-0 lead after which the Sooners evened things up to make it one apiece.  The teams again traded goals, after which the Hogs added one more at the end of the period to enter the first intermission with a 3-2 lead.  Two unanswered markers for the Sooners, though, left the Razorbacks trailing by one entering the final frame.  Although the Hogs notched the equalizer just a few minutes into the third period, the Sooners scored their fifth roughly midway through the final period en route to a 5-4 win.

The second game was equally tight.  OU took a 2-0 lead in the second period of that contest when the Razorbacks cut the deficit in half on a mid-period tally by Assistant Captain Matt Robinson.  The teams traded chances until the Sooners were able to pot an empty netter to seal the win.  Lifetime, the Hogs are 1-10-0 against Oklahoma and have never beaten the Sooners on home ice.

Following the OU tilt, the Hogs will play host to #7 University of Central Oklahoma (21-7-1) on Friday at 8 pm and Saturday at 4 pm.  Last weekend, UCO swept #11 Stony Brook by 3-1 and 4-3 scores.  The Bronchos and Razorbacks last played in Oklahoma City on September 29.  After a scoreless first period that night, the Bronchos jumped out to a 1-0 lead midway through the second period.  When the Hogs responded, the two teams went into the second intermission tied 1-1.  UCO broke the tie roughly two minutes into the second period and added an insurance goal minutes later en route to a 3-1 win.  The Razorbacks have never beaten the Bronchos on home ice.

Meanwhile, the Division III Razorbacks get on the road to take on Robert Morris-Peoria.  After earning a split last weekend against Kansas, the DIII Hogs look to earn a pair of critical Pacific Region wins as they make a final push to earn a spot in the Regional Tournament.

Ticket information for this weekend’s home games is here.

Can’t make it?  No problem.  Broadcast information is here.