Florida Southern College (D3) @ Tampa (D2)

 

The battle in the Bay continues Friday night when Florida Southern takes on Tampa’s Division 2 men’s team. These two rivals are separated by only 37 miles, and both squads have playoff aspirations.

 

The Florida Southern Mocs boast the top-scoring offense in the College Hockey South Division 3 ranks, averaging over eight goals per game. The Mocs sit comfortably in a playoff spot, with a .833 win percentage in 12 division games.

 

The Spartans have played a more balanced game so far this season. Despite being 13-8-1, Tampa’s goal differential is only plus four. Tampa is currently No. 4 in the CHS Division 2 South Division. 

 

Georgia Institute of Technology (D2) @ University of South Carolina (D1)

 

This two-game series has teams headed in opposite directions. The visiting Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets head to Columbia, S.C., trying to snap an eight-game winless streak. On the other hand, the South Carolina Gamecocks enter the weekend on a 10-game winning streak.

 

While the Gamecocks also possess a potent offense, they have been winning with stifling defense in their recent stretch of wins. In their last four games, they have only allowed six goals. South Carolina goaltender Tyler Tomoyan (33) is first in save percentage and second in goals-against average amongst CHS Division 1 goalies.

 

Georgia Tech sits on the outside of the playoff picture entering the weekend, trailing the University of Alabama in Hunstville by five points. The Yellow Jackets played two hard-fought games against Middle Tennessee State University in their previous series, but only achieved a single point for their efforts.

 

University of Central Florida (D2) @ Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (D2)

 

We head back to the Sunshine State where Embry-Riddle hosts UCF for a pair of pivotal games with playoff implications. Only the top four teams in the CHS Division 2 South Division will advance to the playoffs and at present, UCF is in third place, while Embry-Riddle is in fifth. Embry-Riddle is one point behind UCF and tied with fourth-place Tampa. 

 

This will be the second head-to-head series between the two teams with the first coming back in November of 2023. UCF won the first meeting 4-1, but Embry-Riddle evened the series with a win by the same score.

 

With the end of the season fast approaching, this series could make or break either team’s playoff hopes.

 

University of Tennessee (D2) @ University of Clemson (D2)

 

The teams placed second and third in the CHS D2 North Division square off in Clemson, S.C., with both teams trying to lock down playoff spots.

 

The Clemson Tigers entered 2024 in second place in the North Division and had a firm hold on playoff positioning. But after four straight losses to begin the year, this series against Tennessee has increased in importance. 

 

The Ice Vols are back in action for the first time since winning the third-place game of the Savannah Hockey Classic against Georgia Tech. With a point in either of the games against Clemson, Tennessee will clinch a playoff spot.