Mavericks 2, Lakers 0

Freddy's three thoughts of the game ...

1. On to the final: For the first time in the three-year history of the current WCHA playoff format, Minnesota State is in playoff championship game. The Mavericks will host the final and play for the Jeff Sauer Trophy next Saturday against Bowling Green, a team they went 0-2 against in the regular season. MSU last played in the championship game in 2016, losing to Ferris State 2-1 in the Final Five title game at Grand Rapids, Mich. They last won it in 2015 in St. Paul, beating Michigan Tech 5-2. "To have an opportunity to win a championship in our building, that's something special," senior captain Max Coatta said. "We're going to be fired up for sure."

2. Good D: I wrote a lot about goaltender Dryden McKay and his 31-save shutout in my gamer (linked below), so please give that a read, but his defense was again good in front of him, especially in the first and third periods. There was some exceptional play by a couple of guys who go a bit unnoticed, Riese Zmolek and Jack McNeely. McNeely might have played his best weekend of hockey, according to associate head coach Todd Knott. "I think all of us know coming into it that it was going to be a grind," Zmolek said. "After (Friday) night, we knew it was going to be a battle until the end of the game." The Mavericks have gone the last 15 games without giving up more than two goals in a game.

3. Special team: The Mavericks won their 31st game of the season, a team record. They tied the previous record of 30 on Friday, a mark set by the 1980 Division II national championship team. They scored two power-play goals on the same major in the first period for a 2-0 lead they held from that point forward. Julian Napravnik and Reggie Lutz scored the goals, both on nice plays. The Mavericks also killed off all three of the Lakers' power plays, eight for the series. In those eight short-handed situations, they allowed just four shots to get to McKay, two each night.

Read my game story here.

Around the WCHA: Bowling Green swept Northern Michigan at Marquette, winning Saturday's game 2-1 in double-overtime. Sam Craggs scored the game-winner at 2:09. Shots were 43-41 in favor of the Falcons — 40 saves for winning goalie Ryan Bernard and 41 for Atte Tolvanen.