Sioux 4, Mavericks 2 (update)

Freddy's three thoughts of the game:

1. 5 x 3 = no advantage: The Mavericks led 2-1 after the first period on goals by Ben Youds and Rylan Galiardi (who got a great up-the-gut pass from Youds during a power play for a breakaway). The Sioux came back with two goals in the second period to take a 3-2 lead. In the third period, Minnesota State got 1:49 of 5x3 power-play time but it mustered just one shot on goal. Early on, the puck was sitting in the crease, practically on the goal line, but no one could get there to pop it in. From there, it was a lot of missed and blocked slap shots and good clears by the Sioux to kill it off. "You gotta score there," MSU coach Troy Jutting said.

2. Best team so far? North Dakota might have to go up in the rankings when PucKato sends them in this week. The Sioux are loaded with talent (and even had two of their top players, Jason Gregoire and Brett Hextall, out with injury this week). Matt Frattin scored his nation-leading 17th goal on Sunday. Brad Malone had a fabulous weekend, and Chay Genoway is simply fun to watch out there. The Sioux simply seem to have the Mavericks' number, going 16-1-1 against MSU in their last 18 meetings. The Mavericks' last 10 losses to the Sioux, including both this weekend, have come by one goal each (UND's fourth goal on Sunday was an empty-netter).

3. Break time: The  Mavericks will get the next two weeks off until they start preparing for Notre Dame's Shillelagh Tournament in the Chicago area. The Mavericks went 4-2-0 since their Thanksgiving break. Despite not being able to get a win against the Sioux, Youds said he likes they way they're playing of late. "We used our speed," he said. "Over the past three weekends, we've used our speed. I think we're finally starting to get it. It's our biggest asset." Later: "With North Dakota ranked fifth and us having a really good weekend, we're close. We're close."

Read The Free Press story here. Check out the Grand Forks Herald story here. See the box score here.

Due to the postponed game, Monday's paper didn't have the Freep Stars of the Series. Here they are:

1. Matt Frattin, F, UND — The nation's leading goal scorer had a pair highlight-reel goals in the series and now has 17 already this season.

2. Ben Youds, D, MSU — Two goals, two assists in the series. Former Gophers great Pat Micheletti (whose son Alex attends MSU and helps out the gameday staff) attended the game and said, "I'd take Youds on my team any day."

3. Brad Malone, F, UND — Scored four points, including three assists on Friday and the game-winning goal on Saturday.