Tigers 6, Mavericks 2

Freddy's Three Thoughts of the Game ...

1. Playing from behind: Colorado College scored two power play goals in the first 10 minutes of the game, and Minnesota State simply couldn't play well from behind the rest of the night. The Tigers finished 3 for 6 on the power play and outshot MSU 44-26 for the game. The Mavericks might have thought they deserved better in Friday's 2-1 overtime loss, but they earned Saturday's loss.

2. A highlight (or two): MSU didn't give the small crowd of 2,622 much to cheer about, but there were two nice moments. The Mavericks made a pretty play for a power-play goal that made it 2-1 at 15:13 of the first period. Zach Lehrke and Max Gaede each made a spinning pass, with the latter skimming across the crease before Jean-Paul LaFontaine slammed it into the net at the right post. It was LaFontaine's 10th goal of the year. The other highlight was Michael Dorr's short-handed breakaway at 10:04 of the third period. But that made it a 5-2 game.

3. Looking for a win: Sure, the Mavericks beat Alabama Huntsville handily a week ago, but they have not won a WCHA game in their last nine tries, going 0-8-1 in that span. They are 2-11-1 at the midway point of the league schedule, the worst 14-game start since they joined the league in 1999-2000. They're last in the WCHA, two points out of 11th place and five points out of 10th. With an exibition game on Dec. 30 and a nonconference series at St. Lawrence on Jan. 6-7, the Mavericks won't play a WCHA series again until Jan. 13-14 when they host Wisconsin.

Deep thought: LaFontaine's uncle, Hockey Hall of Famer Pat LaFontaine, attended Saturday's game, as did MSU recruit Teddy Blueger of Latvia via Shattuck-St. Mary's in Faribault, who signed with the Mavs last month.

Quote of the night: "Stick penalties, not good penalties." — MSU coach Troy Jutting on his team's three tripping penalties committed in the game's first 8 1/2 minutes.

Around the WCHA: St. Cloud State 5, Denver 1 ... Bemidji State 5, Alabama Huntsville 0 ... North Dakota 5, Russian Red Stars 1 (exhibition)