Falcons 3, Mavericks 2 (OT)

Freddy's three thoughts of the game ...

1. If it's MSU and it's BG, it's OT: The Mavericks and Falcons played their eighth overtime game in 22 meetings since Bowling Green joined the WCHA in 2013-14. The last time that happened in Mankato, MSU erased a 2-0 deficit in the info 2 minutes of regulation and won in overtime for the WCHA playoff championship. On Friday, the Mavericks got up 2-0 before the first period was 10 minutes old and the Falcons erased that less dramatically, with a goal before the first period ended and another in the second before winning in overtime. Prior to the game, the big board showed MSU's goals from last March's championship game. That fired up the crowd, but maybe it fired up the Falcons, too.

2. First loss: The Mavericks suffered their first loss of the season and first loss since Jan. 19 of last season when Lake Superior State beat them 1-0. That was Minnesota State's lone home loss last year, and they went unbeaten in their next 13 games after that, including their first four games at the civic center this season. "We didn’t have everybody on board pulling a piece of the rope," Mavericks coach Mike Hastings said. "We had some passengers. That’s going to happen with some young guys and it did. We just had too many of them." Minnesota State's top line of Marc Michaelis, Parker Tuomie and Charlie Gerard was good, teaming up for a goal and having a combined 12 shots on goal. But credit Eric Dop for his play in goal, especially on a big save on Tuomie that would have made it 3-0 in the first period.

3. Young guns blanked: Freshman Lucas Sowder was held off the score sheet for the first time this season, and fellow rookie Nathan Smith was also blanked. Neither had a shot on goal, and Sowder had a good scoring chance on an gaping net go just under his stick in the third period. They were each minus-2 (along with linemate Dallas Gerads), and Smith took two penalties. "A couple young guys had their first rough night, their first experience of what its like to be on the other side of the coin," Hastings said. "Those are experiences you have to go through." Gerads, a junior, was back in the lineup after missing four games, but veterans Jake Jaremko (illness) and Chris Van Os-Shaw (upper body) were both out. Freshman Cade Borchardt was the extra skater and got limited shifts.

Read my game story here.

Around the WCHA: Lake Superior State 5, Ferris State 4 (OT) ... Northern Michigan 5, Alabama Huntsville 3 ... Bemidji State 4, Alaska 0 ... Omaha 3, Alaska Anchorage 3 (OT)