Freddy's three thoughts of the game ...
1. Scoring explosions: Minnesota State clung to a 2-1 lead from first intermission on until Nick Rivera's beautiful short-handed goal at 5:43 of the third period started a stretch that broke the game open for the Mavericks, who won their sixth straight first-round playoff series. Rivera and Connor Mackey scored 25 seconds apart, and Daniel Brickley made it three goals in span of 1:53. Marc Michaelis added another goal for four in just under 5 minutes. The Mavericks did the same thing in a similar timeframe in the second period in Friday's opener to blow that game wide open. "We focused on getting pucks to the net all game," Rivera said. "We were fortunate to get that bounce [for the short-handed goal], but it was important to keep it rolling and keep the momentum up."
2. By the numbers: Saturday's win was the 150th for coach Mike Hastings at Minnesota State. What an impressive six-year run it's been for him. As for this season, Minnesota State (28-7-1) extended its unbeaten streak to 13 games (12-0-1). With two assists in the game, Zeb Knutson now has 41 points for the season, two behind C.J. Suess. It marks the first time MSU has two 40-point players since 2013-14 when Matt Leitner had 45 points and Jean-Paul LaFontaine had 40. Six players have 30 or more points. Goaltender Connor LaCouvee won his 22nd game, making 22 saves, including 13 of 14 in the third period.
3. Power up: The Mavericks finished 3 for 7 on the power play, getting a nice deflection by Dallas Gerads in the first period and third-period goals by Daniel Brickley and Marc Michaelis. But it might have a man advantage without a goal that got them going. Down 1-0, MSU grabbed some momentum with a power play that started at 7:36 of the first period. Hastings said he subscribes to the idea that you can get something out of a scoreless power play. "Absolutely," he said. "And We did. We had some good looks. We had some opportunities. We possessed. They had to defend. Like I said, later, I thought they did a good job of making some adjustments and making a couple of plays."
Read my game story here.
Around the WCHA: Alabama Huntsville 3, Northern Michigan 2 (series tied 1-1) ... Michigan Tech 5, Bemidji State 3 (Tech wins series 2-0) ... Bowling Green 5, Ferris State 2 (BG wins series 2-0)
Deep thought: The Mavericks will have to wait until Sunday night to see who they will play in next weekend's semifinal series at the Verizon Center. If Alabama Huntsville pulls off the upset of second-seeded Northern Michigan, the Chargers will come to Mankato. If the Wildcats win, Michigan Tech, which pulled off a mini-upset with a sweep at Bemidji State, will play here.
Saturday, March 3, 2018
Live: MSU vs. Alaska, Game 2
The No. 3 Mavericks will try to complete a series sweep of the Nanooks on Saturday night and move on to the semifinals of the WCHA playoffs. If Alaska wins, a third game will take place on Sunday. Follow along below tonight's lines.
MINNESOTA STATE
20-Michaelis, 15-Suess, 6-Tuomie
16-Lutz, 5-Jaremko, 10-Knutson
23-Rivera, 11-Spooner, 19-McClure
22-Gerads, 27-Schwalbe, 12-Coatta
8-Brickley, 18-Scheid
2-Mackey, 25-Zmolek
4-Lewis, 24-Hookenson
37-LaCouvee
29-Nelson
Scratches: Bigelbach, Cooper, Duehr, French, Gerard, McNeely, Pawloski, Vanko
ALASKA
26-Cline, 27-Leiter, 28-Hope
11-Jandric, 15-Van Tetering, 9-Young
39-Heidt, 16-Munson, 22-Staley
23-Leer, 20-Newton, 36-Marino
6-Frye, 12-Hinz
8-Woods, 24-LaDouce
32-Thompson, 5-Koberstein
1-Dellamaggiore
33-Martinsson
20-Michaelis, 15-Suess, 6-Tuomie
16-Lutz, 5-Jaremko, 10-Knutson
23-Rivera, 11-Spooner, 19-McClure
22-Gerads, 27-Schwalbe, 12-Coatta
8-Brickley, 18-Scheid
2-Mackey, 25-Zmolek
4-Lewis, 24-Hookenson
37-LaCouvee
29-Nelson
Scratches: Bigelbach, Cooper, Duehr, French, Gerard, McNeely, Pawloski, Vanko
ALASKA
26-Cline, 27-Leiter, 28-Hope
11-Jandric, 15-Van Tetering, 9-Young
39-Heidt, 16-Munson, 22-Staley
23-Leer, 20-Newton, 36-Marino
6-Frye, 12-Hinz
8-Woods, 24-LaDouce
32-Thompson, 5-Koberstein
1-Dellamaggiore
33-Martinsson
***
Friday, March 2, 2018
Mavericks 8, Nanooks 2
Freddy's three thoughts of the game ...
1. Points spread: "A lot of guys pitched in tonight." That's what MSU senior forward Brad McClure said after the game. (Read much more about him and his usual playoff antics in the link below.) Indeed, 13 players had at least a point for the Mavericks, including McClure with two goals, C.J. Suess with a goal and two assists and Parker Tuomie with a goal and an assist. Freshman Jared Spooner had a three-assist game, and Nick Rivera helped out on two goals. A four-goal outburst over a span of about 4 1/2 minutes in the second period, including goals by Max Coatta and Jake Jaremko 18 seconds apart, turned the game from 3-2 to 7-2.
2. Nice moment: Coatta's goal to make it 4-2 came 29 second after Alaska cut the game to 3-2 on a power-play goal by Tristan Thompson. Thompson's slapper from the left point appeared to beat goalie Connor LaCouvee to the far post, probably a puck the red-hot goalie would have liked to have back. After celebrating his goal and going down the bench, Coatta made a bee line to LaCouvee and said something, most likely words of encouragement. "I'm not sayin this in a boastful matter at all, but it doesn't surprise me about Max," coach Mike Hastings said. "Max, he puts his work in every single day. He cares about everybody on our team, and does that in actions and not just words. ... That proves he thinks well beyond himself, and that's why I think he's such a strong captain for us."
3. Can they finish? Minnesota State will try to close out the series on Saturday night. A loss would force a third game on Saturday. A year ago, the Mavericks swept the Nanooks in this round 3-0 and 4-1, but other than that, they have swept Alaska just once in seven regular-season series since the two became WCHA-mates. "I asked the guys, 'What do you think's going to happen tomorrow night?' They're going to be coming because they don't want their season to end," Hastings said. "And if you've followed history of our series this year, previous seasons, one team might get it one night and the next night the other team comes. And we expect them to come, and they will."
Read my game story here.
Around the WCHA: Northern Michigan 7, Alabama Huntsville 1 ... Bowling Green 2, Ferris State 1 (OT) ... Michigan Tech 5, Bemidji State 3
1. Points spread: "A lot of guys pitched in tonight." That's what MSU senior forward Brad McClure said after the game. (Read much more about him and his usual playoff antics in the link below.) Indeed, 13 players had at least a point for the Mavericks, including McClure with two goals, C.J. Suess with a goal and two assists and Parker Tuomie with a goal and an assist. Freshman Jared Spooner had a three-assist game, and Nick Rivera helped out on two goals. A four-goal outburst over a span of about 4 1/2 minutes in the second period, including goals by Max Coatta and Jake Jaremko 18 seconds apart, turned the game from 3-2 to 7-2.
2. Nice moment: Coatta's goal to make it 4-2 came 29 second after Alaska cut the game to 3-2 on a power-play goal by Tristan Thompson. Thompson's slapper from the left point appeared to beat goalie Connor LaCouvee to the far post, probably a puck the red-hot goalie would have liked to have back. After celebrating his goal and going down the bench, Coatta made a bee line to LaCouvee and said something, most likely words of encouragement. "I'm not sayin this in a boastful matter at all, but it doesn't surprise me about Max," coach Mike Hastings said. "Max, he puts his work in every single day. He cares about everybody on our team, and does that in actions and not just words. ... That proves he thinks well beyond himself, and that's why I think he's such a strong captain for us."
3. Can they finish? Minnesota State will try to close out the series on Saturday night. A loss would force a third game on Saturday. A year ago, the Mavericks swept the Nanooks in this round 3-0 and 4-1, but other than that, they have swept Alaska just once in seven regular-season series since the two became WCHA-mates. "I asked the guys, 'What do you think's going to happen tomorrow night?' They're going to be coming because they don't want their season to end," Hastings said. "And if you've followed history of our series this year, previous seasons, one team might get it one night and the next night the other team comes. And we expect them to come, and they will."
Read my game story here.
Around the WCHA: Northern Michigan 7, Alabama Huntsville 1 ... Bowling Green 2, Ferris State 1 (OT) ... Michigan Tech 5, Bemidji State 3
Live: MSU vs. Alaska, Game 1
The No. 3 Mavericks and Nanooks will open first-round WCHA-tournament play at 7:07 p.m. tonight. It's a best-of-three series and the winner advances to next week's semifinals. Follow along below tonight's lines:
MINNESOTA STATE
20-Michaelis, 15-Suess, 6-Tuomie
16-Lutz, 5-Jaremko, 10-Knutson
23-Rivera, 11-Spooner, 19-McClure
22-Gerads, 27-Schwalbe, 12-Coatta
8-Brickley, 18-Scheid
2-Mackey, 25-Zmolek
4-Lewis, 24-Hookenson
37-LaCouvee
29-Nelson
Scratches: Bigelbach, Cooper, Duehr, French, Gerard, McNeely, Pawloski, Vanko
ALASKA
26-Cline, 16-Munson, 28-Hope
11-Jandric, 15-Van Tetering, 9-Young
39-Heidt, 27-Leiter, 22-Staley
13-Vieth, 23-Leer, 36-Marino
6-Frye, 12-Hinz
8-Woods, 10-Kiraly
32-Thompson, 5-Koberstein
33-Martinsson
1-Dellamaggiore
***
MINNESOTA STATE
20-Michaelis, 15-Suess, 6-Tuomie
16-Lutz, 5-Jaremko, 10-Knutson
23-Rivera, 11-Spooner, 19-McClure
22-Gerads, 27-Schwalbe, 12-Coatta
8-Brickley, 18-Scheid
2-Mackey, 25-Zmolek
4-Lewis, 24-Hookenson
37-LaCouvee
29-Nelson
Scratches: Bigelbach, Cooper, Duehr, French, Gerard, McNeely, Pawloski, Vanko
ALASKA
26-Cline, 16-Munson, 28-Hope
11-Jandric, 15-Van Tetering, 9-Young
39-Heidt, 27-Leiter, 22-Staley
13-Vieth, 23-Leer, 36-Marino
6-Frye, 12-Hinz
8-Woods, 10-Kiraly
32-Thompson, 5-Koberstein
33-Martinsson
1-Dellamaggiore
***
Friday Morning Skate, WCHA Playoff Edition
The postseason begins today!
Minnesota State will host Alaska in a best-of-three WCHA quarterfinal series at the Verizon Center. The top-seeded Mavericks would like to be the first team to get its name etched on the new Jeff Sauer Trophy as the league playoff champs, even though they don't need a playoff title to make the NCAA tournament, as they did the last two years when they fell short. For seniors C.J. Suess and Brad McClure, they'll try to draw on their experiences — both good and bad — in the postseason.
Read more about the matchup with the eighth-seeded Nanooks — the last team to beat the Mavericks — here.
Also, before fully moving to the playoffs, take a second to appreciate MSU's MacNaughton Cup run.
Here's a little more on Alaska from the Fairbanks Daily News Miner.
Going around the WCHA (the other quarterfinal matchups) ...
Alabama Huntsville at Northern Michigan: The second-place Wildcats are hosting a playoff series for the first time in six years and playing a seventh-place Chargers team they've split with twice during the regular season. Here's a series preview from UAHHockey.com.
Ferris State at Bowling Green: The Falcons are the tournament's third seed and, like MSU, have had their share of playoff success, winning their first-round series each year they've been in the new WCHA. Bowling Green, is coming in hot, having won eight of its last 10, swept Ferris State, the playoffs' sixth seed, in their only meeting during the regular season. The Toledo Blade's John Wagner takes a closer look at the series.
Michigan Tech at Bemidji State: The fourth-place Beavers are feeling good heading into the postseason, especially after tying MSU last Saturday. Two weeks earlier, they split a series at Michigan Tech. The fifth-seeded Huskies, meanwhile, are the defending playoff champions, having beaten Bowling Green in double-overtime in last year's championship. They say the key to moving on is beating Beavers goalie Michael Bitzer.
College Hockey News' WCHA preview focuses on Minnesota State. USCHO also has a playoff preview.
In other WCHA news, Lake Superior State gave coach Damon Whitten a four-year contract extension on Thursday. That's an interesting move for a couple of reasons: 1. The other coach who didn't make the playoffs, Alaska Anchorage's Matt Thomas, was fired on Wednesday. 2. The last time the Lakers didn't make the postseason, they fired their coach, Jim Roque.
Minnesota State will host Alaska in a best-of-three WCHA quarterfinal series at the Verizon Center. The top-seeded Mavericks would like to be the first team to get its name etched on the new Jeff Sauer Trophy as the league playoff champs, even though they don't need a playoff title to make the NCAA tournament, as they did the last two years when they fell short. For seniors C.J. Suess and Brad McClure, they'll try to draw on their experiences — both good and bad — in the postseason.
Read more about the matchup with the eighth-seeded Nanooks — the last team to beat the Mavericks — here.
Also, before fully moving to the playoffs, take a second to appreciate MSU's MacNaughton Cup run.
Here's a little more on Alaska from the Fairbanks Daily News Miner.
Going around the WCHA (the other quarterfinal matchups) ...
Alabama Huntsville at Northern Michigan: The second-place Wildcats are hosting a playoff series for the first time in six years and playing a seventh-place Chargers team they've split with twice during the regular season. Here's a series preview from UAHHockey.com.
Ferris State at Bowling Green: The Falcons are the tournament's third seed and, like MSU, have had their share of playoff success, winning their first-round series each year they've been in the new WCHA. Bowling Green, is coming in hot, having won eight of its last 10, swept Ferris State, the playoffs' sixth seed, in their only meeting during the regular season. The Toledo Blade's John Wagner takes a closer look at the series.
Michigan Tech at Bemidji State: The fourth-place Beavers are feeling good heading into the postseason, especially after tying MSU last Saturday. Two weeks earlier, they split a series at Michigan Tech. The fifth-seeded Huskies, meanwhile, are the defending playoff champions, having beaten Bowling Green in double-overtime in last year's championship. They say the key to moving on is beating Beavers goalie Michael Bitzer.
College Hockey News' WCHA preview focuses on Minnesota State. USCHO also has a playoff preview.
In other WCHA news, Lake Superior State gave coach Damon Whitten a four-year contract extension on Thursday. That's an interesting move for a couple of reasons: 1. The other coach who didn't make the playoffs, Alaska Anchorage's Matt Thomas, was fired on Wednesday. 2. The last time the Lakers didn't make the postseason, they fired their coach, Jim Roque.
Thursday, March 1, 2018
Month's best in Mankato
The WCHA announced its players of the month for February, and all four will be playing in this weekend's league quarterfinal series in Mankato. The group includes three Minnesota State players and one Alaska player.
Mavericks include: Offensive Player of the Month Marc Michaelis, Goaltender of the Month Connor LaCouvee and Rookie of the Month Jake Jaremko.
Michaelis had six goals and seven assists in eight games in February. LaCouvee went 7-0-1 with a .921 SV% and 1.81 GAA. And Jaremko had four goals and six assists.
Jaremko also won the award in November and December. LaCouvee also won it in January.
The Defensive Player of the Month honor went to Nanooks defenseman Zach Frye, who had three goals and seven points in February.
Minnesota State and Alaska will begin their series at 7 p.m. Friday.
Mavericks include: Offensive Player of the Month Marc Michaelis, Goaltender of the Month Connor LaCouvee and Rookie of the Month Jake Jaremko.
Michaelis had six goals and seven assists in eight games in February. LaCouvee went 7-0-1 with a .921 SV% and 1.81 GAA. And Jaremko had four goals and six assists.
Jaremko also won the award in November and December. LaCouvee also won it in January.
The Defensive Player of the Month honor went to Nanooks defenseman Zach Frye, who had three goals and seven points in February.
Minnesota State and Alaska will begin their series at 7 p.m. Friday.
Seawolves sack Thomas
Alaska Anchorage on Thursday announced that it will not be renewing the contract of hockey coach Matt Thomas after five seasons. The Seawolves went 4-26-4 this season and missed the WCHA playoff for the fourth time in row.
Thomas had a promising first season in the first year of the new WCHA, finishing sixth in the league and compiling an overall record of 18-16-4. UAA advanced to the league semifinals in Grand Rapids, Mich., that year, too.
But things went downhill from there. Having the specter early in the 2016 season of the possibility of getting the program cut looming over it didn't help more recent recruiting and results.
This season, Anchorage was 2-26-4 before closing out the season with a pair of wins at its arch rival, Alaska.
UAA interim athletic director Tim McDiffett said that a nationwide search for a new coach will begin immediately and told the Anchorage Daily News the expectation is to compete for home ice, if not championships, in WCHA.
"We are committed to hockey," McDiffett told the ADN. "The updates we've made on campus are significant. All (of our) sports face geographical disadvantages, but we think we have a lot of things in place to be more competitive than we have been."
Thomas had a promising first season in the first year of the new WCHA, finishing sixth in the league and compiling an overall record of 18-16-4. UAA advanced to the league semifinals in Grand Rapids, Mich., that year, too.
But things went downhill from there. Having the specter early in the 2016 season of the possibility of getting the program cut looming over it didn't help more recent recruiting and results.
This season, Anchorage was 2-26-4 before closing out the season with a pair of wins at its arch rival, Alaska.
UAA interim athletic director Tim McDiffett said that a nationwide search for a new coach will begin immediately and told the Anchorage Daily News the expectation is to compete for home ice, if not championships, in WCHA.
"We are committed to hockey," McDiffett told the ADN. "The updates we've made on campus are significant. All (of our) sports face geographical disadvantages, but we think we have a lot of things in place to be more competitive than we have been."
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