Mavericks 5, Terriers 3

Photo by Jackson Forderer

Freddy's three thoughts of the game:

1. Last-second Charlie: Most of my gamer (link below) focuses on the game-changing goal scored by junior forward Charlie Gerard, but here's a little more info. Gerard was put on the top line tonight after Walker Duehr was scratched (coach's decision), and he came through by finishing off an all-important play set up beautifully by Parker Tuomie and Marc Michaelis. "Playing with Parker and Marc, those two guys are crazy when they're on the ice." Gerard played just 14 games last season, but had a goal and an assist at BU early in the year. The hope for him, of course, is to stay locked in the lineup this year.

2. Good in goal: It was another impressive performance for freshman goaltender Dryden McKay, who turned away 28 of 31 shots and really weathered the storm in the second period when BU scored three times. Not a softie in the bunch. Coach Mike Hastings said the decision to go with the rookie again was due to his performance on Friday. "I think Dryden McKaty showed he was really up to the task tonight," Hastings said. "That’s a very good hockey team: (Shane) Bowers, Bobo Carpenter, Dante Fabbro. They’ve got a good group over there. I can see how they’re going to give opposing coaches some heartburn."

3. Command performance: Saturday's attendance was 4,802, and it was a lively crowd that included a lot of MSU hockey alumni as the program was celebrating the start of its 50th season. The current team delivered the second of two big victories against a very good, nationally ranked and well-known opponent and did it again in entertaining fashion. Minnesota State, which will rise in the rankings on Monday, sure looks like it's a good team again this year as it's been throughout the Hastings era, but these two wins, considering the opponent and he crowd, were two of the more impressive regular-season home wins the Mavericks have had over that time.

Read my game story here.

Around the WCHA: Northern Michigan 4, Michigan State 3, Bemidji State 1, North Dakota 1 (OT) ... Western Michigan 5, Ferris State 0 ... Minnesota Duluth 5, Michigan Tech 2 ... Denver 6, Alabama Huntsville 0 ... St. Cloud State at Alaska (late)