Mavericks 7, Seawolves 3

Freddy's three thoughts of the game ...

1. Power surge: The Mavericks' power play has shown a little more -- and some much-needed -- life over the last three games, but it exploded on Saturday. MSU was 5 for 6 with the man advantage, getting two power-play goals apiece from Jean-Paul LaFontaine and Johnny McInnis and three assists from Matt Leitner. LaFontaine and Palmquist each had three-point nights (Palmquist had an even-strength goal, along with two power-play assists). Zach Stepan had the other power-play goal. The Mavericks improved their power-play success rate by more than 6 percent (13.1 to 19.4).

2. Williams gets the win: Stephon Williams got the start in goal, a somewhat surprising move considering how well Cole Huggins had been playing. Williams, who stopped 23 of 26 shots, got an important confidence boost, winning for the first time since Oct. 19 against UConn. He's now 3-4-0 this season. "Obviously, I was always ready to get  in there," he said. "(Huggins) has played really well. Every day, I go back to work, get after it and hope I can take advantage of my opportunities." Coach Mike Hastings said Williams had a good week of practice. "You gotta go with history," he said. "The kid's won an awful lot of games in a short career, a lot of important games. And tonight was really important for us. He should take confidence out of tonight's game."

3. Starting to roll? The wins over Anchorage gave MSU its first WCHA sweep of the season. The Mavericks have won three games in a row and moved into a tie for third place in the conference standings. Is this team starting to look more like the one folks were expecting to see in the early going? With Zach Lehrke back on the ice and healthy freshmen Zach Stepan and Carter Foguth, they seem to be closer to that. "It came together tonight for sure," McInnis said. "There are some thing we have to continue to work on, but it's nice to have success during the process." Northern Michigan comes to town next.

Read my game story here. Not sure if the box score is going to get into the print edition due to a snafu. See that here.

Around the WCHA: Lake Superior 4, Bowling Green 3 ... Ferris State 1, Northern Michigan 1 (OT) ... Miami 6, Bemidji State 3 ... Western Michigan 1, Alabama Huntsville 0 ... Michigan Tech at Alaska (late)

MSU vs. Alaska Anchorage - Game 2 live blog

Lines can be found below the live chat ...



MINNESOTA STATE
12-LaFontaine ... 23-Blueger ... 19-Lehrke
26-Margonari ... 25-Stepan ... 22-McInnis
21-Grant ... 18-Leitner ... 9-Gervais
24-Knowles ... 16-J. Nelson ... 8-Gaede

27-Stern ... 7-Palmquist
28-Jutzi ... 5-Foguth
11-Flanagan ... 6-C. Nelson

35-Williams
34-Huggins
31-Karambelas

Scratches: Buchanan, Herndon, Huntebrinker, Knoll, Josh Nelson

ALASKA ANCHORAGE
29-Allen ... 21-Bailey ... 14-Dusyk
20-Trupp ... 10-Cameron ... 39-Hubbs
27-Friesen ... 9-Tatchell ... 17-Kwas
16-Pettitt ... 19-Murphy ... 18-Duwe

7-Coldwell ... 2-Van Allen
3-Docken ... 37-Williams
5-Sevalrud ... 13-Sproule

33-Gunderson
35-Kamal

Referees: Derek Shepherd, Brad Shepherd. Linesmen: Matt Tyree, Rick Nelson.

Mavericks 3, Seawolves 2

Freddy's three thoughts of the game ...

1. Mixing things up: The line combination of center Teddy Blueger and wings Jean-Paul LaFontaine and Zach Lehrke played Friday like a a group that had been skating together since early October, teaming up for the first two goals of the game. The reality is: LaFontaine was moved from center to wing on that line this week, and Lehrke was playing in his third game since returning to club. They were listed as the top group on the line chart, and they played like it. Lehrke, who had a goal and an assist, now has four power-play assists in three games. With his return the Mavs already have doubled the power-play production of their first 10 games.

2. Not the Seawolves of old: The Mavericks controlled the early pace, thanks to the group mentioned above, but the second period became a good, old-fashioned, grind-it-out affair. It was fast and physical after Anchorage tied things up. New coach Matt Thomas has that team playing well, and, not unlike MSU last year with its first-year coach, he's had the help of a few wily veterans, including Matt Bailey, who scored his eighth goal of the season, as well as sophomore Blake Tatchell and junior Brett Cameron, who also had a goal. There are good hockey teams in the new WCHA, even if they don't have the name recognition of the power conferences. 

3. They'll take the bounce: It's good to hear a coach or a player talk about a bounce going his way and not just talk about their luck on a bad bounce. Freshman defenseman Sean Flanagan scored the game-winning goal on a shot near the boards in the high zone. The puck deflected off a defender and fluttered in behind unsuspecting goaltender Rob Gunderson. The game was tied 2-2 at the time of the goal, which came at 3:10 of the third period. "You look at college hockey today," coach Mike Hastings said, "it's hard to win. You've got to pay a significant price. We got a bounce late. At least we were in position to take advantage of it." From there, MSU held on for the win. Cole Huggins stopped 21 shots for the win.

Deep thought: Did you notice something on one of the MSU uniforms tonight? Chase Grant was wearing an A on his sweater. The junior forward has been made an alternate captain. The Mavericks have been down that extra A since Josh Nelson went out.

Around the WCHA: Ferris State 4, Northern Michigan 1 ... Lake Superior 4, Bowling Green 3 ... Notre Dame 5, Alabama Huntsville 2 ... Bemidji State 4, Miami 4 (OT) ... Michigan Tech 3, Alaska 2

"You look at college hockey today," Hastings said, " it's hard to win. You've got to pay a significant price. We got a bounce late. At least we were in position to take advantage of it."

MSU vs. Alaska Anchorage - Game 1 live blog

Lines can be found under the live chat ...



MINNESOTA STATE
12-LaFontaine ... 23-Blueger ... 19-Lehrke
26-Margonari ... 25-Stepan ... 22-McInnis
21-Grant ... 18-Leitner ... 9-Gervais
24-Knowles ... 16-J. Nelson ... 8-Gaede

27-Stern ... 7-Palmquist
28-Jutzi ... 5-Foguth
11-Flanagan ... 6-C. Nelson

34-Huggins
35-Williams
31-Karambelas

Scratches: Buchanan, Herndon, Huntebrinker, Knoll, Josh Nelson

ALASKA ANCHORAGE
29-Allen ... 21-Bailey ... 14-Dusyk
20-Trupp ... 10-Cameron ... 39-Hubbs
27-Friesen ... 9-Tatchell ... 17-Kwas
16-Pettitt ... 19-Murphy ... 18-Duwe

7-Coldwell ... 2-Van Allen
3-Docken ... 37-Williams
5-Sevalrud ... 13-Sproule

33-Gunderson
35-Kamal

Referees: Derek Shepherd, Brad Shepherd. Linesmen: Matt Tyree, Rick Nelson.

Friday morning skate (Black Friday edition)

The Mavericks are back home this weekend for another important WCHA series, this one against Alaska Anchorage. There was a time when having Anchorage in town would be just what the doctor ordered. But these are not the Seawolves of old.

Minnesota State is healthier than the last time folks in Mankato saw them, with Zach Stepan back and Zach Lehrke returned to the team. And all of MSU's lineup issues (on defense, Josh Nelson remains out while Carter Foguth began skating this week) have been cause for others to step up and steady their games. One of those players is junior defenseman and alternate captain Brett Stern, who has responded to the challenge.

Check out more on the series in The Free Press' gameday package.

One of the reasons, Anchorage is not the same as the last couple of years (besides a new coach) is the improved play of senior goaltender Rob Gunderson, per the Anchorage Daily News.

Around the WCHA ...

Ferris State at Northern Michigan: NMU has the task this week of slowing down Ferris (8-0-1 in its last nine games), which goes on the road for the first time since Nov. 1-2. The Wildcats' Reed Seckel is featured by The Mining Journal.

Bowling Green at Lake Superior: The Falcons are seeking consistency after splitting a pair of overtime games against Minnesota State last week, and that challenge comes on the road against the Lakers, one of the surprise teams of the WCHA.

Michigan Tech at Alaska: Tech goalie Pheonix Copley goes home for Thanksgiving with the hope of giving the Huskies their first road win of the season. Both teams are coming off of disappointing weekends in league play.

Miami at Bemidji State: The Beavers host the Redhawks in a nonconference series and rematch of the 2009 Frozen Four.

Alabama Huntsville in Notre Dame tournament: The Chargers seek their first win of the season, playing in this year's Shillelagh tournament against the Irish. Western Michigan and Northeastern are the other dams.

Marquette's Matt Wellens and I make our weekend picks.

Mavs get another '14 commitment

Minnesota State had a small early signing class with forwards C.J. Franklin and Zeb Knutson of the Sioux Falls Stampede inking National Letters of Intent this month. The Mavericks will have at least one more player join them next fall, as Brad McClure of the BCHL's Penticton Vees announced his commitment on Monday:

Officially committed to Minnesota State University for next year!! Couldn't be more excited to be a Maverick for the next 4 years!
— Brad McClure (@mcClure20) November 25, 2013

McClure, 20, is the Vees' leading scorer and captain (known as "Captain Clutch"). He has 17 goals and 33 points in 25 games, ranking fourth in the BCHL in both categories. He has 12 points in his last eight games. Last season he had 27 goals and 46 points in 53 games.

The Stratford, Ontario, native originally committed to Ferris State more than a year ago but since changed his mind.

In a Vees press release, coach/general manager Fred Harbison said, "Brad has been an outstanding captain for us and an offensive threat every time he touches the ice. He will be a great addition to the Mavericks."

MSU has a nice pipeline with Penticton. Current player Bryce Gervais, Sean Flanagan and Nick Buchanan played there, and the Vees also have future Mavs Max Coatta,

Mavericks 3, Falcons 2 (OT)

Freddy's three thoughts of the game (from afar) ...

1. I'd keep playing: Minnesota State and Bowling Green may be developing a nice rivalry after playing four games in a 16-day span with three of the games going to overtime. The Mavericks won two of the OT games, getting a very much-needed victory on Saturday night. In their season series, the two teams each scored 10 goals, and Bowling Green had a 117-115 shots-on-goal edge. Doesn't get much closer than that. Perhaps they'll meet again in Grand Rapids.

2. Top players step up: Bryce Gervais scored the overtime winner, his fourth goal of the season. After the game coach Mike Hastings said Gervais has "played well the last 2 1/2 weeks." He sure seemed to have plenty of scoring chances all weekend against the Falcons. He was credited with six shots on goal on Saturday and eight for the series. Chase Grant made a tremendous pass to set up the goal. He out-hustled two defenders and got some Stretch Armstrong arms to tap the puck to Gervais in the slot. Jean-Paul LaFontaine had a goal and an assist, and Matt Leitner scored his first goal of the season.

3. Look in the mirror: The game was a reflection of Friday's game in which MSU had a 2-0 lead in the first period and saw it slip away. On Saturday, the Mavericks trailed 2-0 after one period and came back to force overtime and win it in the extra period, just as Bowling Green did the night before. Stephon Williams got the start in goal and stopped 11 shots in the first period. Cole Huggins, who took the loss Friday, came in in the second and stopped all 21 shots he faced for the win. Said Hastings: "We needed a little change. Willy had done a pretty decent job in there, but we needed to do something to change the momentum."

Deep thought: Check out my story in Sunday's Free Press about Gustavus goaltender Marah Sobczak. She got the surprising start in goal today (and the win). It was her first start (and third appearance) since the horrible 2012 car crash that left her and her sister in critical condition and facing quite the uphill climb.

Around the WCHA: Ferris State 4, Alaska 3 ... Northern Michigan 4, Alabama Huntsville 0 .. Bemidji State 2, Lake Superior 1 (OT) ... Michigan Tech 2, Alaska Anchorage 2 (OT)