On February 12 & 13, the #19 Division I Razorback Hockey team (15-15-3) welcomes the WSHL Springfield Express.   The Hogs enter the weekend after having taken 3 of 4 points from Missouri State last weekend.  In game 1 against the Bears, Arkansas welcomed the Law School and treated the capacity crowd to an eight goal offensive outburst.  The eight goal performance comprised the biggest offensive surge for the team all season.

After honoring its senior class, the Hogs had a tougher road in a substantially more competitive second game.  The team found itself down 2-0 after the first period on Saturday but rallied to score four unanswered goals.  But the 4-2 lead melted over the course of the third period and the Bears tied the contest in regulation.  Neither team scored during an overtime that saw both teams trade chances.  The Bears earned the victory in the ensuing three-round shootout. The weekend performance vaulted Arkansas to its highest ranking all season–at #19.

Meanwhile, the DIII Razorbacks traveled to Nashville for the SECHC conference playoff tournament last weekend.  After a 21-2 drubbing of LSU in the first round, Florida knocked the Hogs out of the tournament behind a 7 goal effort.  But, in the third place game, the Razorbacks pulled out a 3-2 victory against Vanderbilt–avenging an earlier season 5-0 disappointment and taking two of three games from the Commodores on the season.

Next up for the Division III Razorbacks is the Regional Tournament.  Held in Lincoln, Nebraska, on February 19 & 20, the Hogs will play for the opportunity to earn a bid to the National Tournament.  The DIII Hogs are idle this weekend.

The puck drops for this weekend’s DI games at 8:30 pm on Friday and 4:00 pm on Saturday.