By Nate Ewell, College Hockey, Inc.

Nebraska-Omaha doesn't know what team it will be playing in its first venture into the WCHA playoffs, but despite the uncertainties of a new conference and an unknown opponent, the Mavericks know exactly what they are getting into.

"Each league has subtle differences, but hockey's hockey," senior Rich Purslow said after scoring two goals against Denver Friday night. "Every team is going to play their hardest this time of year.

"We all love playoff hockey - it's why you play," he added. "It's a faster pace, it's more physical, there's more intensity."

"The atmosphere changes as soon as you step in the rink, no matter if you're at home or on the road," Ohio State goaltender Cal Heeter said. "Playoff hockey is like nothing else. I love it."

The excitement of playoff hockey first grips the college game this weekend, with the first round underway in Atlantic Hockey, the CCHA and ECAC Hockey. Four teams in each league have first-round byes; in Atlantic Hockey the other eight teams play a single-elimination game, while CCHA and ECAC have best-of-three series.

Hockey East and the WCHA have the final weekend of regular season action this weekend to sort out who will match up for best-of-three series March 11-13.

For UNO, which could finish as high as second in its new conference, the excitement is already here.

"This late in the season is already playoff hockey," Purslow said. "Everyone needs points right now, every night."

Once playoffs hit it's about survival, not points - which raises that intensity level even further.

After all, by Sunday 14 college hockey teams will be done for the season.