Saturday, October 28, 2017

Mavericks 5, Huskies 3

Freddy's three thoughts of the game:

1. Everybody gets a penalty! What a crazy third period. I've seen games with more penalties called, but the stretch of about 8 1/2 minutes in the third period when eight separate minor penalties (seven in a span of about 6 1/2 minutes) was insane. How the Mavericks managed to get through that with two 5-on-3 power-play goals was somewhat impressive. Daniel Brickley broke a 3-3 tie with a low, laser shot at 16:07, and C.J. Suess put one in at the doorstep at 17:04. Zeb Knutson assisted on both goals. Suess and Knutson each had a three-point game.

2. Important sweep: Coach Hastings preaches protecting home ice, and the Mavericks did that after losing their home opener against St. Cloud State three weeks earlier. They came from behind to get Saturday's win with three unanswered goals. "Early in the season, a point can cost you at the end of the season," Suess said. "It was important to get the sweep and not a tie or a loss." Hastings also opted to go with Connor LaCouvee in goal in back-to-back games for the first time this season. He stopped 16 of 19 shots Saturday.

3. Freshmen impress: Reggie Lutz had a goal and an assist, and Connor Mackey scored the game-tying goal. Both rookies looked the part against good competition. Jack McNeely, who had the big blocked shot on Friday, also had an assist, and Jared Spooner was plus-1. In the end, the veterans came through with the big power-play goals, but the freshmen are making key contributions early in the season. Lutz said he didn't play much late due to all of the special teams action. "I'm not on the power play or penalty kill, so I just had to stay with it, stay positive on the bench and stay vocal on the bench."

Read my gamer here.

Around the WCHA: Bemidji State 3, Ferris State 0 ... Alaska 2, Bowling Green 2 (Alaska wins in shootout) ... Cornell 3, Alabama Huntsville 0 ... Michigan State 6, Lake Superior State 0

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