Mavericks 3, Wildcats 2

Freddy's three thoughts of the game ...

1. A tale of three periods: The Mavericks and Wildcats were scoreless in the first period, thanks mostly to Dryden McKay's outstanding play in the MSU net. He made a couple of big-time saves over the first 20 minutes and finished the game with 32 stops. In the second, Minnesota State grabbed a 2-0 lead on goals by Charlie Gerard and Dallas Gerads, and the Mavericks went up 3-0 less than 2 minutes into the third. But then the ice titled the Wildcats' way, and everything seemed to be rushing back into the MSU zone. Northern scored twice, but that was all, and Minnesota State ensured no worse than a series split in a tough building.

2. Duehr the Doer: I wrote a bit about Walker Duehr in my gamer (linked below), but I left out a few quotes from coach Mike Hastings on his team's top candidate for MSU's most-improved player this season. Duehr scored one goal, had an empty-netter taken away due to a close offsides and found his defensive game to help secure the win. "One of his issues was on the defensive side of the puck, and I’m just seeing him grow that way," Hastings said. "He played some very important minutes for us down the stretch. ... It’s amazing in this game when you play the game the right way it has a tendency to pay you back and it paid him back tonight."

3. Playing short-handed: Duehr's improved play in the defensive zone was really important, especially in the third period, considering the Maverickss were missing three reliable defenders in forwards Max Coatta and Nick Rivera and defenseman Riese Zmolek. Coatta and Zmolek were injury scratches, and Rivera was hurt in the first period; his status for Saturday is unknown. Duehr acknowledged how much those players are relied, and that he and others had to step up in their stead. Minnesota State will need Duehr and others to do the same on Saturday night if it's to get a sweep against the tough Wildcats.

Read my game story here.

Around the WCHA: Lake Superior State 5, Bemidji State 2 ... Bowling Green 3, Ferris State 0 ... Alaska 3, Alabama Huntsville 1 ... Michigan Tech at Alaska Anchorage (late)