Out of the cellar

Pat Christman/The Free Press

Minnesota State is officially out of the WCHA basement. The Mavericks are in 11th place, two points ahead of Alaska Anchorage, which was swept at Wisconsin over the weekend. So how far can MSU climb? 

The schedule seems amenable for movement over the next three weeks, as the Mavericks travel to 10th-place Bemidji State (three points ahead of MSU), host tied-for-seventh Michigan Tech (eight points ahead) and go to Anchorage. 

After that, MSU hosts No. 1 Minnesota Duluth, has a week off and then closes the regular season at North Dakota. So where do you think they'll finish up?

Meanwhile, here is The Free Press' Monday notebook/review, featuring Eriah Hayes best-of-times-worst-of-times weekend. .. There also is a photo gallery of Pat Christman pics from the series. ... Minnesota State posted a brief video interview with Johnny McInnis following his overtime game-winner on Saturday.