Men's Hockey | 11/18/2015 5:39:00 PM

Recently: Minnesota State stands 6-6-0 on the year (5-1-0 WCHA) after earning a nonconference split with the University of Minnesota last weekend.  The Mavericks absorbed a 4-0 home loss to Minnesota Friday evening, before claiming a 3-2 overtime come-from-behind victory over the Gophers in Minneapolis Saturday. 

On Tap: The Mavericks, who have gone 6-2-0 in their last eight games, resume conference action this weekend with a road series at Northern Michigan Friday and Saturday.. Minnesota State is 6-1-1 all-time in the series vs. the Wildcats and are unbeaten in the last five games between the two schools.


Noteables
Junior defenseman Casey Nelson, last week's WCHA Defensive Player of the Week, stands tied for second in the nation in defensemen scoring and leads the Mavericks in scoring with 3-7--10 on the year. Nelson owns 11-37--48 in 71 career games to rank 12th on Minnesota State career defenseman scoring list (NCAA DI-era).

Senior forward Bryce Gervais, who enters the series at Northern Michigan having played in 134 consecutive games with the Mavericks, leads the Mavericks in goals (4) and stands tied for third in points (6). Gervais has 55-26--81 in his four seasons with the Mavericks to tie for 22nd on the program's career scoring list (NCAA DI era). His 55 career goals rank seventh at Minnesota State for the school's NCAA Division I-era. 

Senior forward Teddy Blueger recorded his sixth career game-winning goal when he tallied at 4:17 of overtime in last Saturday's victory at Minnesota. Video of that game-winning goal, which was named #3 on on NCAA Men's Hockey Plays of the Week, is available HERE. Blueger, who has 22-57--80 in 126 career games as a Maverick, ranks second on this year's scoring charts with 3-4--7. 

Freshman goaltender Jason Pawloski stands 3-0-0, with a 2.37 GAA and .879 save percentage in his first season with the Mavericks. He is one of nine freshmen netminders in the country with at least three victories this year.

Freshman forward Max Coatta, who assisted on Brett Knowles' game-tying goal in last Saturday's 3-2 overtime win at Minnesota, has appeared in eight games in his maiden season with  the Mavericks and MSU owns a 6-2-0 record in those games.

Junior forward Zach Stepan, who stands tied for third on MSU's scoring charts 2-4--6 on the season, owns 14-25--39 in 81 career appearances. 

Junior defenseman Sean Flanagan has 2-4--6 on the year to tie for third on Minnesota State's scoring charts this year. Flanagan, who has 8-25--33 in 78 career games, has 2-3--5 in MSU's last six games.

Junior goaltender Cole Huggins, who had 21 saves in last Friday's home loss to Minnesota,  owns a 28-16-1 career mark with the Mavericks and his 28 wins rank 12th on the school's all-time list. Westy Graves (MSU 1979-83) and Des Christopher (1995-98) are tied for 11th at 29 wins.

Sophomore forward Brad McClure assisted on Teddy Blueger's overtime game-winning goal last Saturday at Minnesota and now has 1-2--3 in 12 games played this year.  McClure owns 16-16--32  in 51 career games.

Senior forward Brett Knowles scored his second goal of the season when he scored with 45 seconds remaining in regulation vs. Minnesota last Saturday to send the game into overtime.  Knowles owns 15-17--32 in 120 games as a Maverick.

Senior forward Dylan Margonari, who missed Minnesota State's first ten games of this year due to injury, suited up for the first time this season in last Friday's game vs. Minnesota.  Margonari has 32-22--54 in 115 career games with the Mavericks.

As a team Minnesota State is outshooting its opponents 378-297 through the team's first 12 games.  The Mavericks, who have outshot their opponents in eight of their 12 games on the season, are fifth in the nation for fewest shots on goal allowed per game (24.75), rank 12th in shots on goal margin with a +6.75 SOGM mark.

Minnesota State's defensemen have totalled 7-18--25 in the team's 12 games this year, which, as a group, ranks 12th in the nation.

Now into his fourth season as the Minnesota State bench boss,  Mike Hastings has guided the Mavericks to a trio of NCAA tournament appearances in his first three years with the program. The Crookston, Minn., native owns a career collegiate coaching record of 85-42-7 (.658).