Freddy's three thoughts of the game ...
1. Top notch, top notch: Minnesota State's top line of C.J. Suess, Marc Michaelis and Parker Tuomie, which was put together as a trio for the first time this season on Friday, was dominant in what was essentially a must-win for the Mavericks on Saturday. The group compiled eight points, including a two-goal, one-assist performance by Suess. Although he didn't get an assist on Daniel Brickley's goal, Suess did a lot of the dirty work in the offensive zone that eventually set up the scoring play. "He's been pretty consistent," Michaelis said of Suess. "He plays like a man. He wins his battles and plays a 200-foot game." Suess now has a team- and WCHA-leading 26 points (10-16).
2. More about Marc: Michaelis missed the Mavericks' last four games before Christmas and returned to action on Friday. Perhaps one game was all the adjustment he needed to get back in the groove as he had a goal and two assists Saturday, especially in the third period when he scored a key insurance goal. (The puck went in off his skate on a Riese Zmolek shot, but he was going hard to the net with a defender all over him.) "It was terrible watching," Michaelis said of being injured. "Ask any player whose been scratched. I had a lot of time to prepare." Michaelis now has 16 points.
3. Big rebound: The series-opening loss to Northern Michigan was the first Friday-night loss of the season for the Mavericks, so it was going to be interesting to see how they reacted. They certainly didn't want to get swept at home, nor did they want to drop out of first place in the WCHA standings. That's why it was as close to a must-win as you could have for a pre-Jan. 1 game. Not only was that top line great, but Jason Pawloski was solid in goal, especially to help a penalty kill that had its work cut out for it in the second period and early third. Six of Pawloski's 23 saves came against the WCHA's leading goal scorer, Robbie Payne, who was kept off the board.
Read my game story here.
Around the WCHA: Bemidji State 4, Alabama Huntsville 1 ... Lake Superior State 4, Arizona State 1
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