Mankato, Minn. --- Minnesota State junior defenseman
Sean Flanagan enjoyed a career night in helping Minnesota State skate past Alaska, 5-2, in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association men's hockey home contest in Mankato Friday.
A trio of first period goals, all from defensemen, powered the host Mavericks to the win.
Junior defenseman
Casey Nelson started things when his shot from the left dot at 10:11 beat
Davis Jones stickside. The goal is Nelson's first of the year. Then, at 12:52, junior defenseman
Sean Flanagan ripped a shot past Jones from the top of the left circle for his first goal of the season. Senior blueliner
Jon Jutzi's wrister from 20 feet out at 14:26 made a 3-0 Minnesota State lead. The goal, which came with the Mavericks on the power play, is Jutzi's goal second of 2015-16.
Marcus Basara made a nifty backhand move to beat Maverick freshman goaltender
Jason Pawloski 24 seconds into the second period with the Nanooks on the power play in cutting the Minnesota State lead to 3-1.
Peter Krieger's rebound backhand tally at 4:37 brought Alaska within one, but senior forward
Bryce Gervais rifled a shot past Jones at 10:11 to make it 4-2 in favor of the Mavericks. The goal is the second of the season for Gervais.
Sean Flanagan's second goal of the game, which came with the Mavericks on the power play at 15:12 of the final period, made it a 5-2 Minnesota State lead.
Flanagan, who entered the game with one point in the teams' first six games, finished with two goals and two assists in the win.
The Mavericks went two-for-five in power play chances on the night, while the Nanooks capitalized on one-of-five chances with the man advantage in the game. Freshman netminder
Jason Pawloski registered 13 saves for Minnesota State and now stands 2-0-0 for the season with the win.
Minnesota State, which stands 3-4-0 overall and owns a 3-0-0 WCHA mark, closes out the two-game league series with Alaska Saturday with a 7:07 face-off scheduled for Verizon Wireless Center.
Head coach
Mike Hastings commented following the win.
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