Minnesota State sophomore goaltender Jason Pawloski and freshman forward Parker Tuomie received WCHA weekly awards this week for their play in the Mavericks' quarterfinal series win over Alaska.
Pawloski was named WCHA Defensive Player of the Week, and Tuomie received WCHA Rookie of the Week honors.
Pawloski, an Omaha native, stopped 52 of 53 shots (.981 save percentage), including a 23-save shutout on Friday, to beat the Nanooks twice. He improved his season record to 7-3-2 with a .926 save percentage and 2.03 goals-against average.
Tuomie, a native of Bremerhaven, Germany, had four points in the series, including two goals on Friday and two assists on Saturday. He was plus-3 for the series. He now has eight goals and 10 assists for 18 points in 36 games.
Tuesday, March 7, 2017
Monday, March 6, 2017
WCHA semifinals set
Well, the Mavericks will be on the road for the semifinals of the WCHA playoffs. They'll travel to Houghton, Mich., this week to take on Michigan Tech in the best-of-three series.
Minnesota State didn't get the help it needed from Northern Michigan so it could host this week. Bemidji State beat NMU on Sunday night in Game 3 of their series. The top-seeded Beavers will host Bowling Green in the other semifinal.
The Mavericks could still host one more game, though. If they knock out the Huskies, and the Falcons pull off an upset at Bemidji, MSU would host the Broadmoor Trophy championship game. But that's getting ahead of things.
Minnesota State went 2-1-1 against Michigan Tech this season. The two wins took place way back on opening weekend last October in Mankato. On Jan. 20-21, MSU tied and lost in the U.P. They did get the extra point in the tie with a shootout win but were shut out the next night. Since then, MSU is 7-2-1 (2-2-0 on the road) and Tech is 5-4-1 (3-2-0 at home).
Bemidji State went 3-1-0 against Bowling Green this season, sweeping the Falcons at home to start the season and splitting a series in Ohio on Jan. 5-6. In their last 10 games, Bemidji State is 6-4-0 (5-2-0 at home) and Bowling Green is 7-3-0 (1-1 on the road).
Minnesota State didn't get the help it needed from Northern Michigan so it could host this week. Bemidji State beat NMU on Sunday night in Game 3 of their series. The top-seeded Beavers will host Bowling Green in the other semifinal.
The Mavericks could still host one more game, though. If they knock out the Huskies, and the Falcons pull off an upset at Bemidji, MSU would host the Broadmoor Trophy championship game. But that's getting ahead of things.
Minnesota State went 2-1-1 against Michigan Tech this season. The two wins took place way back on opening weekend last October in Mankato. On Jan. 20-21, MSU tied and lost in the U.P. They did get the extra point in the tie with a shootout win but were shut out the next night. Since then, MSU is 7-2-1 (2-2-0 on the road) and Tech is 5-4-1 (3-2-0 at home).
Bemidji State went 3-1-0 against Bowling Green this season, sweeping the Falcons at home to start the season and splitting a series in Ohio on Jan. 5-6. In their last 10 games, Bemidji State is 6-4-0 (5-2-0 at home) and Bowling Green is 7-3-0 (1-1 on the road).
Saturday, March 4, 2017
Mavericks 4, Nanooks 1
Freddy's three thoughts of the game:
1. Moving on: The Mavericks avoided some lessons of the past and won Saturday night to advance to the WCHA semifinal round. Twice this season, Minnesota State defeated Alaska handily on Friday only to struggle against the Nanooks the next night, losing at Fairbanks and tying (and dropping the shootout) in Mankato. After winning 3-0 on Friday, MSU withstood a strong push and got the job done to sweep and avoid having to play a decisive third game as it did a year ago against Lake Superior State. "Now, we can take a day off an relax," said Jordan Nelson, whose line was fantastic on Saturday and, really, the whole weekend. "Last year, we had to play on Sunday and grind through it. Now, we can regroup and get our rest."
2. Who's next? Minnesota State will also spend Sunday waiting to see who they'll play next and where that will take place. With Northern Michigan winning at Bemidji State on Saturday and forcing a third game, the Mavericks could be home or away for the best-of-three semifinals. A Wildcats upset win will keep MSU at home against Bowling Green, which finished off a sweep of Ferris State, 5-3. If the top-seeded Beavers win, the Mavericks will go on the road to Michigan Tech, which swept Lake Superior State with an 8-0 victory. Certainly a lot of MSU fans will be rooting for Northern Michigan. If MSU is at home, will it be able to break the 3,000 attendance mark, something — partially due to the students being on spring break — it was unable to do this weekend?
3. Best for last: Every team says it wants to be playing its best hockey at the end of the year, and it would be hard to deny that the Mavericks are doing that. The win, MSU's 21st of the season, was the team's sixth in its last seven games. Since returning from Houghton, Mich., in Jan. 21 with a tie and a shutout loss, the Mavericks are 7-2-1. Goaltender Jason Pawloski started and won his third game in a row on Saturday and stopped 79 of 81 shots (.975) in those games. Nelson's line with Max Coatta and Parker Tuomie had three goals and three assists on Saturday and five goals and four assists for the weekend. "I like the direction we're going in right now," coach Mike Hastings said.
Read my game story here.
1. Moving on: The Mavericks avoided some lessons of the past and won Saturday night to advance to the WCHA semifinal round. Twice this season, Minnesota State defeated Alaska handily on Friday only to struggle against the Nanooks the next night, losing at Fairbanks and tying (and dropping the shootout) in Mankato. After winning 3-0 on Friday, MSU withstood a strong push and got the job done to sweep and avoid having to play a decisive third game as it did a year ago against Lake Superior State. "Now, we can take a day off an relax," said Jordan Nelson, whose line was fantastic on Saturday and, really, the whole weekend. "Last year, we had to play on Sunday and grind through it. Now, we can regroup and get our rest."
2. Who's next? Minnesota State will also spend Sunday waiting to see who they'll play next and where that will take place. With Northern Michigan winning at Bemidji State on Saturday and forcing a third game, the Mavericks could be home or away for the best-of-three semifinals. A Wildcats upset win will keep MSU at home against Bowling Green, which finished off a sweep of Ferris State, 5-3. If the top-seeded Beavers win, the Mavericks will go on the road to Michigan Tech, which swept Lake Superior State with an 8-0 victory. Certainly a lot of MSU fans will be rooting for Northern Michigan. If MSU is at home, will it be able to break the 3,000 attendance mark, something — partially due to the students being on spring break — it was unable to do this weekend?
3. Best for last: Every team says it wants to be playing its best hockey at the end of the year, and it would be hard to deny that the Mavericks are doing that. The win, MSU's 21st of the season, was the team's sixth in its last seven games. Since returning from Houghton, Mich., in Jan. 21 with a tie and a shutout loss, the Mavericks are 7-2-1. Goaltender Jason Pawloski started and won his third game in a row on Saturday and stopped 79 of 81 shots (.975) in those games. Nelson's line with Max Coatta and Parker Tuomie had three goals and three assists on Saturday and five goals and four assists for the weekend. "I like the direction we're going in right now," coach Mike Hastings said.
Read my game story here.
Live coverage: MSU vs. Alaska
The Mavericks will go for the series sweep and a spot in next week's WCHA semifinals when they play Alaska at 7:07 p.m. Minnesota State won Friday's game 3-0. Follow along with the action below tonight's lines.
MINNESOTA STATE
20-Michaelis, 15-Franklin, 10-Knutson
25-Stepan, 17-Huntebrinker, 19-McClure
6-Tuomie, 16-Nelson, 12-Coatta
23-Rivera, 26-French, 9-Gerard
11-Flanagan, 5-Foguth
8-Brickley, 18-Scheid
4-Lewis, 24-Hookenson
Scratches: Bigelbach, Cooper, Madry, Schwalbe, Vanko
25-Stepan, 17-Huntebrinker, 19-McClure
6-Tuomie, 16-Nelson, 12-Coatta
23-Rivera, 26-French, 9-Gerard
11-Flanagan, 5-Foguth
8-Brickley, 18-Scheid
4-Lewis, 24-Hookenson
Scratches: Bigelbach, Cooper, Madry, Schwalbe, Vanko
ALASKA
26-Cline, 16-Munson, 22-Staley
14-Morley, 15-Van Tetering, 9-Basara
23-Leer, 7-Erickson, 13-Vieth
39-Heidt, 18-Mullally, 28-Hope
6-Frye, 32-Thompson
8-Woods, 24-LaDouce
12-Hinz, 5-Kobertsein
30-Jones
29-Jenks14-Morley, 15-Van Tetering, 9-Basara
23-Leer, 7-Erickson, 13-Vieth
39-Heidt, 18-Mullally, 28-Hope
6-Frye, 32-Thompson
8-Woods, 24-LaDouce
12-Hinz, 5-Kobertsein
30-Jones
Friday, March 3, 2017
Mavericks 3, Nanooks 0
Freddy's three thoughts of the game ...
1. Complete game: Minnesota State played a solid, solid game to open the WCHA playoffs. An early goal, good goaltending, a power play goal, an excellent penalty kill ... that's the recipe for a playoff victory. Sean Flanagan had a three-point game, including a goal just 2:05 in. Parker Tuomie, who has been heating up (six points in his last five games) scored twice. And Jason Pawloski carried over his excellent performance in goal last Saturday in Bemidji to get his second career shutout (23 saves). The most impressive stretch of the game came midway through the second period when MSU killed off an 89-second 5-on-3 to preserve a 2-0 lead. "Just a commitment," coach Mike Hastings said. "(C.J. Franklin), I thought, really showed his true colors as a far as a leader, and our defensive corps blocking shots, getting complete clears all the way down to the other end. And ... it’s a 5-on-3 in the second period where you’ve got the long changes and you can get caught."
2. Senior moment: The Mavericks' seniors were solid throughout the game, starting with the first goal. Flanagan scored it, getting assists from Carter Foguth and Zach Stepan. Michael Huntebrinker got a lot of the credit for screening goalie Davis Jones on the play. Huntebrinker later assisted on Tuomie's first goal, and Jordan Nelson assisted on Tuomie's second goal. Foguth finished the game with five blocked shots. Flanagan now has five goals and 16 points for the season.
3. It's not over: If the Mavericks learned anything this season, it's that the Nanooks don't go away easily. A 7-1 victory on Oct. 21 in Fairbanks was answered with a 4-2 Alaska win. Then a 7-3 win in Mankato was answered with a 5-5 tie and a Nanoooks shootout win. "Oh, there're not going away," Hastings said. The Mavericks will have to put together a similar effort on Saturday as they did in the opener to prevent a Game 3 on Sunday. "Everybody knows they're going to come hard," Flanagan said. "They've done it to use a couple of times. We'll have to weather that storm and get on them and play with speed."
Read my game story here.
Around the WCHA: Bemidji State 3, Northern Michigan 0 ... Michigan Tech 6, Lake Superior State 4 ... Bowling Green 6, Ferris State 1
1. Complete game: Minnesota State played a solid, solid game to open the WCHA playoffs. An early goal, good goaltending, a power play goal, an excellent penalty kill ... that's the recipe for a playoff victory. Sean Flanagan had a three-point game, including a goal just 2:05 in. Parker Tuomie, who has been heating up (six points in his last five games) scored twice. And Jason Pawloski carried over his excellent performance in goal last Saturday in Bemidji to get his second career shutout (23 saves). The most impressive stretch of the game came midway through the second period when MSU killed off an 89-second 5-on-3 to preserve a 2-0 lead. "Just a commitment," coach Mike Hastings said. "(C.J. Franklin), I thought, really showed his true colors as a far as a leader, and our defensive corps blocking shots, getting complete clears all the way down to the other end. And ... it’s a 5-on-3 in the second period where you’ve got the long changes and you can get caught."
2. Senior moment: The Mavericks' seniors were solid throughout the game, starting with the first goal. Flanagan scored it, getting assists from Carter Foguth and Zach Stepan. Michael Huntebrinker got a lot of the credit for screening goalie Davis Jones on the play. Huntebrinker later assisted on Tuomie's first goal, and Jordan Nelson assisted on Tuomie's second goal. Foguth finished the game with five blocked shots. Flanagan now has five goals and 16 points for the season.
3. It's not over: If the Mavericks learned anything this season, it's that the Nanooks don't go away easily. A 7-1 victory on Oct. 21 in Fairbanks was answered with a 4-2 Alaska win. Then a 7-3 win in Mankato was answered with a 5-5 tie and a Nanoooks shootout win. "Oh, there're not going away," Hastings said. The Mavericks will have to put together a similar effort on Saturday as they did in the opener to prevent a Game 3 on Sunday. "Everybody knows they're going to come hard," Flanagan said. "They've done it to use a couple of times. We'll have to weather that storm and get on them and play with speed."
Read my game story here.
Around the WCHA: Bemidji State 3, Northern Michigan 0 ... Michigan Tech 6, Lake Superior State 4 ... Bowling Green 6, Ferris State 1
Live coverage: MSU vs. Alaska
Minnesota State opens WCHA postseason play at 7:07 p.m. tonight against Alaska. The Mavericks are the third seed, and the Nanooks are sixth. The winner of the best-of-three series will advance to the league semifinals, another best-of-three series at the home of the higher seed. Follow along with the action below tonight's lines.
MINNESOTA STATE
20-Michaelis, 15-Franklin, 10-Knutson
25-Stepan, 17-Huntebrinker, 19-McClure
6-Tuomie, 16-Nelson, 12-Coatta
23-Rivera, 26-French, 9-Gerard
11-Flanagan, 5-Foguth
8-Brickley, 18-Scheid
4-Lewis, 24-Hookenson
Scratches: Bigelbach, Cooper, Madry, Schwalbe, Vanko
25-Stepan, 17-Huntebrinker, 19-McClure
6-Tuomie, 16-Nelson, 12-Coatta
23-Rivera, 26-French, 9-Gerard
11-Flanagan, 5-Foguth
8-Brickley, 18-Scheid
4-Lewis, 24-Hookenson
Scratches: Bigelbach, Cooper, Madry, Schwalbe, Vanko
ALASKA
26-Cline, 16-Munson, 22-Staley
39-Heidt, 27-Leiter, 28-Hope
14-Morley, 15-Van Tetering, 9-Basara
18-Mullally, 7-Erickson, 13-Vieth
6-Frye, 24-LaDouce
8-Woods, 10-Kiraly
12-Hinz, 32-Thompson
30-Jones
29-Jenks
39-Heidt, 27-Leiter, 28-Hope
14-Morley, 15-Van Tetering, 9-Basara
18-Mullally, 7-Erickson, 13-Vieth
6-Frye, 24-LaDouce
8-Woods, 10-Kiraly
12-Hinz, 32-Thompson
30-Jones
29-Jenks
Friday Morning Skate
Yes, it seems just a bit early for it, but that's because of the new, Final Five-less format that will take place over the next three weekends.
In Mankato, Minnesota State will take on Alaska in the first round. The Mavericks are the third seed, but have had some of the best individual performances of the season at a couple of places, notably defenseman Daniel Brickley, the pride of Utah, who might have become the third D-man ever to lead the WCHA in scoring if not for an injury that caused him to miss eight games early in the season.
For more on the matchup with the sixth-seeded Nanooks, read the Freep's College Hockey Gameday.
Based on the teams' games this past season, no one should be surprised if the series is decided in a third game on Sunday night, the Fairbanks Daily News Miner writes. They split in Fairbanks, and, in Mankato, MSU won the first game and, following a tie in the second, Alaska won in a shootout. The Nanooks are coming off a sweep of rival Alaska Anchorage, winning the Governor's Cup between the two teams for the fifth time in a row.
Here's a look at the other playoff matchups:
1-Bemidji State vs. 8-Northern Michigan: The Beavers won the MacNaughton Cup and what's their reward? A matchup with the Wildcats and their record-setting goalie Atte Tolvanen. Expect a defensive battle between these two teams. "I don't think anyone was doing cartwheels having to play Northern Michigan," BSU coach Tom Serratore told the Bemidji Pioneer. The Wildcats squeaked into the eighth spot, but now it's a whole new season for them.
2-Michigan Tech vs. 7-Lake Superior State: The Huskies, like many team are looking for some secondary scoring, to get through this matchup between Upper Peninsula teams. It was something Tech started to see in their final games of the regular season. The Lakers are 0-4-4 in their last eight games, but three tiebreaker wins, including one Saturday, gave them the seventh seed.
4-Bowling Green vs. 5-Ferris State: The Falcons got the home-ice edge on the Bulldogs on the final weekend of the season, but Ferris will come to town hot, having lost just once in its last seven games. BGSUhockey.com has a good feature on Bowling Green's Pohlkamp brothers from Baxter, Minn. The Falcons were the WCHA-favorite before the season started. They didn't win the MacNaughton Cup but they still have goals in sight.
Read WCHA playoff previews from USCHO and College Hockey News. And learn more about the playoffs on the Inside the WCHA show.
Wondering what I think will happen this weekend? I made some bold predictions in my Tuesday column.
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