Lafontaine Stays Hot With Five-Point Weekend in Two Wins over Alaska Anchorage as Mavericks Extend Winning Streak to Three Games; Blueger Racks up Four Assists in Two Games; MSU Erupts for Six Power Play Goals in Series with Seawolves

On Tap: Minnesota State (7-7-0 overall, 5-3-0 WCHA) continues Western Collegiate Hockey Association action this Friday and Saturday with home games vs. Northern Michigan (6-4-2, 3-3-2 WCHA). MSU and UAA play at Verizon Wireless Center (4,832) Friday (7:37 p.m.) and Saturday (7:07 p.m.) CST.

About the MSU-NMU Series: The games this weekend between the Mavericks and the Wildcats are the first between the two schools.

MSU Most Recently: Winners of its last three games, Minnesota State (7-7-0, 5-3-0 WCHA) claimed 3-2 and 7-3 home wins over Alaska Anchorage last Friday and Saturday. BGSU prevailing 4-3 in the first game and the Mavericks responding with a 3-2 win Saturday.

About the Wildcats: Northern Michigan (6-6-2 overall, 4-3-1 WCHA) comes to town having gone 4-1-2 in its last seven outings.

The Wildcats, who dropped a 4-1 decision before earning a 1-1 tie with sixth-rated Ferris State last weekend, is led offensively by senior forward Stephan Vigier (10-5--15) and senior defenseman C.J. Ludwig (5-7--12).

Head coach Walt Kyle (Northern Michigan '81) is in his 12th year as a college head coach and at Northern Michigan. Kyle owns a career record of 214-192-51.

MSU All-Time: The Minnesota State men's hockey program, begun in 1969-70, completed its 44th year of competition last year.

MSU is in its 17th year as a member of NCAA Division I (first DI season was 1997-98) and the Mavericks are in their 15th season as members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. The Mavericks sport an all-time record of 767-594-134 (.557).

Fun & Games: The games this weekend with Northern Michigan will mark the 1,499th and 1,500th games in the history of the Minnesota State men's hockey program.

With The Man Advantage: The Mavericks, who had gone 4-for-46 (.086) on the power play through the first ten games of the year, have gone 9-for-21 (.428) with the man advantage in the last four contests. For the season the Mavericks have converted on 13-of-67 power chances with a 19.4% success rate ranking 26th in the country.

MSU converted on five-of-six power play opportunities in last Saturday's 7-3 win over Alaska Anchorage with the five power play goals in the game matching the five PPGs scored by the Mavericks in a 9-1 win over Nebraska-Omaha March 6, 2004.

On Tap: Following the games with Northern Michigan, the Mavericks will continue Western Collegiate Hockey Association action with a pair of road games at Alabama-Huntsville Dec. 13-14. Minnesota State closes out the first half of the 2013-14 schedule Dec. 17 with a home exhibition game vs. the U.S. national junior team.

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