On Tap:  14th-rated Minnesota State (15-8-3 overall, 9-8-1 WCHA) continues WCHA action this weekend with a pair of games with #1 Minnesota. The Mavericks and the Gophers (17-3-4 overall, 9-3-4 WCHA) play at Mariucci Arena (10,000) Friday at 7:07 p.m. and at 7:07 p.m. Saturday in downtown Mankato at Verizon Wireless Center (4,832).

Series With UM:  The Mavericks split a series with the Gophers earlier this year (3-2 loss in Minneapolis, 5-3 win in Mankato at the beginning of November) and stand 9-32-6 all-time vs. Minnesota. In the last ten games between the two schools, Minnesota State owns a 6-4-0 advantage.

Pulling Rank:   Minnesota State is rated 14th in this week’s national USCHO.com poll.  The Mavericks are in the USCHO.com poll for the sixth consecutive week. After appearing in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine rankings for three straight weeks, the Mavericks are in the “receiving votes” category this week.

MSU Most Recently:  Winners of 12 of their last 15 games, the Mavericks stand 15-8-3 overall after gaining a 3-3 tie and a 4-0 win at the University of Alaska Anchorage last weekend.

MSU All-Time:  The Minnesota State men’s hockey program, begun in 1969-70, completed its 43rd year of competition last year.  The Mavericks are in their 17th year as members of NCAA Division I and in their 14th season as members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. With a total of 1,455 games played, the Mavericks sport an all-time record of 751-581-137 (.558).

Noteables:  Minnesota State has held opponents to four power play goals in the last 18 games (one in the last nine) and has killed off 58-of-62 opponent power play opportunities during that time. For the season, the Mavericks are tied for 24th in the country with a 84.2% PK mark having killed off 85 of 101 opponent power plays.

Sophomore forwards Jean-Paul Lafontaine and Matt Leitner, along with defensemen Zach Palmquist are MSU’s active leaders in terms of consecutive games played at 64.  The second-year trio have not missed a game during their times as Mavericks.

Acess to the entire 11-page release (pdf) is available HERE.