Freddy's three thoughts of the game ...
1. How odd: When the Mavericks are playing well, they don't give up many odd-man rushes. But they gave up more than their usual share on Friday, and it proved costly. A couple of turnovers and a fallen D-man led to the dagger, a 2-on-1 finished off by Joseph Nardi with 36.1 seconds left in the game. Minnesota State also gave up a goal off a bad line change, another by leaving the WCHA's best goal scorer, Robbie Payne, all alone below the left circle and one on the first shot of the game for NMU, one goaltender Connor LaCouvee undoubtedly would like to have back.
2. Race tightens: As I mention in my gamer (link below), there's now a close race between the Mavericks and the Wildcats as they begin the second half of the WCHA schedule. Just two points separate MSU and NMU atop the WCHA standings. They split a series in early November in Marquette. If they split again this weekend, the Mavericks will still be up five points. If the Wildcats pull off the road sweep, they'll be in first place by a point. There's a lot of season left, of course, it feels like Saturday's game is a big one.
3. Bright spots: Jake Jaremko, Parker Tuomie and Riese Zmolek each had a goal and an assist for the Mavericks. Jarmeko continues to impress as a rookie. He extended his point streak to 10 games and now has 20 points. Tuomie was playing on a line with C.J. Suess and Marc Michaelis on Friday and scored what seemed like a big game-tying goal with 5:10 left in the game. Zmolek, the freshman, was called the team's best defenseman in the game by coach Mike Hastings afterward for his play at both ends of the ice.
Read my game story here.
Around the WCHA: Bemidji State 3, Alabama Huntsville 1 ... Robert Morris 5, Lake Superior State 0
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