There’s just one reason that the UCLA hockey team has
remained focused and confident heading into tonight’s game in
spite of injuries, players lost to graduation, a six-game losing
streak and potentially poor ice conditions.
It’s USC.
And tonight when the Bruins (9-8) will face the Trojans
(15-7-1), the lights will be a little brighter than usual.
The two teams will face off at the Staples Center immediately
following the L.A. Kings game at 7:30 p.m. It’s an
opportunity for UCLA to right the ship in what has been a
tumultuous season. The fourth-place Bruins have slid after starting
7-2. They’ve been forced to add new players because some
graduated after fall quarter, and they’ve also dealt with
several injuries.
“We just have to blend together after having the winter
break off and losing some of our experienced players to graduation.
We have a big mountain to climb,” said UCLA coach Mike
Kelly.
The Bruins have already lost three times to the Trojans, by a
total of just four goals. In winning three of the first four games,
USC captured the Crosstown Cup ““ the trophy awarded to the
winner of the five-game series the teams play each year ““ for
the second straight year. To top it off, the Bruins were blown out
12-2 in their last game at Arizona State.
First-Team All-Pac-8 goalie Adam Kubalski is expected to return
to face the Trojans, whom he has excelled against in the past.
Kubalski sat out the Arizona State game during which UCLA allowed
twice as many goals as it had in any game all season.
“It’s all about execution. We’ve been losing
our heads out on the ice. But we usually bring our best game
against USC,” Kubalski said.
The Trojans have a deep, well-coached team, so it will be
difficult for the Bruins to take advantage of any one line. USC
sits atop the Pac-8 standings, which are calculated through a
formula because some teams play more games than others. And the
teams could meet yet again in the Pac-8 Tournament. UCLA is
guaranteed a spot because it is the host. The Bruins last won the
tournament in 1999.
Playing at the Staples Center presents another challenge for the
Bruins. The ice won’t be in great shape after the Kings game,
and it will only get worse as the game progresses. Chances are the
conditions will be slow and unfamiliar for the two teams who
haven’t played at the venue in the last three seasons. The
bench at the Staples Center is also known to be unusually warm,
something that could cause fatigue for both teams.
“If it’s a close game, the third period will be
interesting because the ice will be really slow. Hopefully our
condition is good enough,” said Fineman.
The game will be the Bruins’ toughest of the season before
the playoffs, Fineman said. A win in the face of such adversity,
and in such a big venue, could put the Bruins back on track in time
for the Pac-8 Tournament, as well as ease the pain of the
team’s first three losses to the Trojans.
“No matter what, it’s going to be good hockey. I
know we’ll bring a good game, and I really think we’ll
win,” Kelly said.