1. C.J. takes over: There's a lot in my game story (link below) on the night C.J. Franklin had as he led the Mavericks' come-from-behind victory. He had two goals as MSU scored four unanswered to beat Bowling Green. Here's a little more about him from coach Mike Hastings that missed the cut in the story: "I think he can be a dominant player in any game we play whether we’re playing in league or nonconference, just because he has a unique package as far as being able to play any type of game. If you want to play a fast game and get up and down the rink. He’s got the skating ability and the talent to be able to make plays. If you get into some games that are very physical ... tonight, he put a body on a guy, stole the puck and took it right to the hole." Franklin's three-point game gives him 22 points (9 goals, 13 assists).
2. Upper class: After Friday's overtime loss to Bowling Green, Hastings talked about needing more from his upperclassmen. He got that from Franklin and others on Saturday. Zeb Knutson had a goal and an assist, and Zach Stepan assisted on two goals. "Obviously it wasn’t our best effort through two (periods)," said Hastings, who said he singled out Stepan in the locker room after the game because of his solid play over the last two weekends. "We faced some adversity. ... Our leadership group really stepped up there in the third period, which we needed them to do."
3. Full Nelson: Goaltender Aaron Nelson got his fourth consecutive start since being promoted from the No. 3 job, and he bounced back from Friday's overtime loss, too. Nelson, who stopped 22 of 25 shots, picked up his third victory. "Just tried to have fun and get back to what made us successful last weekend (at Alabama Huntsville)," he said. "When we're good, we're good." There was quite a contrast in goalies on Saturday. Nelson is listed at 5-foot-9, 165 pounds. At the other end of the ice, Bowling Green went with freshman Ryan Bednard, who is 6-5, 205.
Read my game story here.
Around the WCHA: Alaska 2, Ferris State 1 (OT) ... Northern Michigan 1, Lake Superior State 1 (NMU wins in shootout) ... Michigan Tech 1, Alaska Anchorage 1 (MTU wins in shootout)
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