Off The Hop:  Tenth-rated Minnesota State (22-11-3 overall, 16-11-1 WCHA) begins postseason action this weekend by hosting a best-of-three Western Collegiate Hockey Association play-off series versus #20 Nebraska Omaha (18-16-2, 14-12-2 WCHA). MSU and UNO square-off at Verizon Wireless Center (4,832) at 7:07 p.m. Friday and 7:07 p.m. Saturday.  Sunday, if necessary, is also scheduled for 7:07 p.m.

MSU Versus the Mavericks:  MSU split a pair of league road games at UNO earlier this year (6-3 win and 5-1 loss, Dec. 14-15) and are 16-11-5 all-time vs. the Mavericks. The series dates back to the 1997-98 season.

MSU in WCHA Postseason: This year’s home WCHA play-off series will mark the fourth time the Mavericks have been at home for the first round of the league play-offs. MSU defeated Alaska Anchorage 2-0 in 1999-00, defeated Wisconsin 2-0 in 2002-03 and lost a 2-1 series to Minnesota in 2007-08. MSU stands 5-2 all-time in home WCHA first-round games.

MSU owns an all-time WCHA play-off mark of 9-28. The Mavericks, who have participated in the WCHA postseason since the 1997-98 season (MSU participated as an affiliate member prior to joining the league on a full-time basis in 1999-2000), have played in 15 WCHA postseason tournaments and have won two first-round play-off series (1999-2000 and 2002-2003).

Where Amongst?:   Minnesota State is rated tenth in this week’s national USCHO.com poll and is 11th in this week’s USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll.

Prior to this year, the last time Minnesota State appeared in the USCHO poll was during the 2008-09 season when the Mavericks were rated in the top twenty 11 times, reaching a high of tenth at one point.

Winning: The Mavericks’ 22 wins this year are the most achieved during the program’s DI-era, which dates back to the 1996-97 season. MSU teams have hit the 20-win plateau three times since reaffiliating to NCAA Division I (22-11-3 in 2012-13, 21-14-4 in 1999-2000 and 20-11-10 in 2002-03).

MSU’s 16 wins in league play are the most by a Maverick team in WCHA league play. The previous best of 15 WCHA wins came in 2002-03.

Noteables:  Sophomore forwards Jean-Paul Lafontaine and Matt Leitner, along with defenseman Zach Palmquist, are MSU’s active leaders in terms of consecutive games played at 74.  The second-year trio have not missed a game during their times as Mavericks.

Excuse My Lateness:  As a team Minnesota State is second nation in goals scored in the third period with 45.

Minnesota State’s 39 power play goals on the season stands tied for second in the nation (the Mavericks 23.1 PP% ranks sixth in the nation).

Attending: MSU’s attendance for last Saturday’s game vs. North Dakota of 5,088 is the seventh-largest crowd ever at Verizon Wireless Center. MSU’s average attendance this year (3,786) is the highest since the Mavericks averaged 3,880 per game in 2009-10.

For MSU's 13-page release, please be sure to click HERE.