Freddy's three thoughts of the game:
1. Veterans come through: Two goals by Brad McClure. Another by Jordan Nelson. Hard-area play by C.J. Franklin. A rock-solid performance by Cole Huggins. The older players for Minnesota State came through in a tough game on Friday night. Nothing got out of hand like other games between the Mavericks and the Bulldogs, but it was a grind with a lot of stopping and starting and a lot of special teams play. McClure, who has been working closely with student-assistant and longtime NHLer Tim Jackman (see my game story below), scored a pair of beauties, tying the game in the first period and giving the Mavericks 4-1 lead in the second.
2. And a couple of youngsters: Freshman forward Ian Scheid scored what would end up being the game-winning goal, putting MSU up 3-1 midway through the second period on the power play. It was his third goal in as many games. He also had a good play out of the penalty box, racing into the defensive zone and diving to the ice to break up a slap shot from the point. He's off to a good start with six points in seven games. Another rookie, Michael Bigelbach, got the nod on D with Daniel Brickley out with injury. He didn't play a ton of minutes but did assist on McClure's second goal.
3. A little revenge: The Mavericks lost to the Bulldogs in the championship game of the WCHA tournament last March in Grand Rapids, Mich. They were held to just 14 shots on goal that game, and the 2-1 loss ended their season. On Friday, they got back to their goal-scoring ways after scoring just two in last Saturday's loss at Alaska, and even chased Final Five MVP Darren Smith from the game in the second period. Smith finished with 15 saves, and freshman Justin Kapelmaster got his first collegiate action after that, stopping all six shots he faced the rest of the way. It will be interesting to see which goalie starts on Saturday for the winless Bulldogs.
Read my game story here.
Around the WCHA: Michigan Tech 2, Northern Michigan 0 ... Miami 2, Bowling Green 1 (OT) ... Lake Superior State 3, Alaska 2 ... Bemidji State 2, Alaska Anchorage 1 (OT) ... St. Cloud State 5, Alabama Huntsville 1
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