Freddy's three thoughts of the game ...
1. Are you not entertained? After the Mavericks won 7-3 on Friday, they and Alaska combined for 10 more goals on Saturday in a wild games that saw the Nanooks go up 3-0 after one period, the Mavericks score four times to take a 4-3 lead after two and Alaska score two quick ones early in the second to jump back ahead 5-4. C.J. Franklin tied the game at 9:33 of the third period, and the Mavericks got a point out of the night and four for the weekend. Franklin's line with Brad McClure and Marc Michaelis finished with three goals and six points. The group had 15 points for the series with the freshman Michaelis getting seven (four goals, three assists).
2. Defense struggles: Coach Mike Hastings admitted that it was a rough night for some of his defensemen, as Alaska's first three goals came on a partial breakaway, a wide-open player in front and a short-handed breakaway. They were chasing early in the third period, too, when the Nanooks scored took back the lead. Sean Flanagan and Ryan Schwalbe were minus-2. As good as it was to have Daniel Brickley (1G, 1A) back in the lineup, it clearly hurt that Carter Foguth was out again with his injury. He is the Mavericks' rock back there.
3. Introducing the shootout: After an entertaining, but scoreless, 3-on-3 overtime in which Mavs goalie Jason Pawloski made good saves early and Nanooks netminder Davis Jones robbed McClure and Michael Huntebrinker in the final minute, Mankato saw the shootout tiebreaker for the first time. It's a sudden-death situation, so it can end after one shooter for each team. Each team's first four shooters missed or were stopped. That included the surprise choice of freshman defenseman Edwin Hookenson as MSU's second shooter. Hastings said "he's been lights out in practice," and gave him a shot to win it. Later, Parker Tuomie matched Tyler Cline in the fifth round, but Zach Stepan was unable to do the same after Ross Heidt scored.
Read my game story here.
Around the WCHA: Michigan Tech 2, Bemidji State 1 ... Bowling Green 5, Lake Superior State 2 .. Alabama Huntsville 5, Ferris State 3 ... Northern Michigan at Alaska Anchorage (late)
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