Mavericks 2, Beavers 1

Photo by Jackson Forderer

Freddy's three thoughts of the game ...

1. Mac is back: For the third time in four years and the third time in five years of the WCHA's current incarnation, Minnesota State has won the MacNaughton Cup as the conference's regular-season champion. Unlike the last time the Mavericks won it, there's no sharing it. With one game to go in the season, they celebrated on the Verizon Center ice with style. Remember: the first time they won it was in Bemidji, and the second time, they locked up a share of the title and celebrated, only to to not get it outright the next night. As coach Mike Hastings said, it's a hard trophy to win. MSU is 22-5-0 in the league, but it came down to the final weekend, and second-place Northern Michigan won on Friday, putting added pressure on the Mavericks.

2. Battling Bitzer: Few goaltenders have had the consistent career that Michael Bitzer has had for Bemidji State. He became that program's all-time saves leader on Friday night and was looking sharp as his team had a 1-0 lead. Minnesota State capitalized off a turnover and a power play to take a 2-1 lead, but wasn't able to extend it after the goalie made some huge stops among his 31, including ones on Zeb Knutson and Brad McClure. Reggie Lutz was stoned on six shots on goal. But Connor LaCouvee matched wits with Bitzer all night, only allowing a goal on a 2-on-1 rush off a turnover and stopping 26 shots, including 10 in a scoreless third period. A good chunk of my game story is about LaCouvee (link below).

3. Freshman growing up: Marc Michaelis scored MSU's first goal, tying the game, but rookie Dallas Gerads got the game-winning, popping back the rebound of a shot by fellow freshman Reggie Lutz during a power play late in the second period. It was the fifth goal of the season for Gerads is really coming on for the Mavericks. He extended his point streak to seven games and has four goals and four assists over that stretch. Michaelis, by the way, has been on a tear, too, with nine points in his last five games and 15 points, including six goals, in MSU's 10-game winning streak

Read my game story here.

Around the WCHA: Northern Michigan 2, Michigan Tech 1 ... Alabama Huntsville 3, Bowling Green 2 ... Ferris State 4, Lake Superior State 1 ... Alaska Anchorage at Alaska (late)