Mavericks 5, Falcons 1

Freddy's three thoughts of the game ...

1. Good response: I was curious to see how Minnesota State would respond to losing its first game of the season and first game at home in a long time. They got off to another good start, but, more impressively, closed out the Falcons with three goals in the third period, extending a 2-1 lead to a 5-1 final. "I liked it," said senior forward Parker Tuomie, who had two assists, including his 100th career point. "Obviously, Bowling Green is a really good team. They gave us a pretty hard push, and we were able to (withstand) it."

2. Three apples: Dallas Gerads had three assists in his second game back after missing four games with injury. He made a nice, soft pass to Connor Mackey as the defenseman went to the net for the game's first goal and helped on the Mavericks' first two goals of the third period. Gerads, who was minus-2 playing with two rookies on Friday, was moved to a veteran line with Jared Spooner and Reggie Lutz on Saturday. "I thought Dallas Gerads was influential in the outcome of the game — physically, offensively, defensively," coach Mike Hastings said. "Whenever you play Bowling Green, you’re going to have to play a hard game because they’re going to make you earn everything you get."

3. Good in goal: Dryden McKay continues to be solid in goal. The sophomore made 23 saves on Saturday, none bigger than the breakaway chance he stopped less than a minute after Spooner gave the Falcons a two-goal cushion in the third period. McKay allowed Alec Rauhauser's breakaway goal in the first period, which came 39 seconds after Mackey got the scoring started. McKay actually made the first save on Rauhauser but the rebound went right back to the talented BG defenseman, and he popped it in to tie the game.

Read my game story here.

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