Men's Hockey | 12/1/2015 11:07:00 AM

On Tap:   Minnesota State (8-6-2 overall, 7-1-2 WCHA) is at #14 Bowling Green (9-3-3 overall, 6-2-2 WCHA) in Western Collegiate Hockey Association action this weekend in Bowling Green, Ohio. MSU and BGSU play at BGSU Ice Arena (5,000) Friday (6:07 p.m.) and Saturday (6:07 p.m.) CST.

Minnesota State Most Recently:  The Mavericks are 8-2-2 in the last 12 games after skating to 2-0 and 6-2 wins over Alaska Anchorage in a pair of league games played in Mankato last weekend.  Minnesota State has 16 points in WCHA play to stand tied atop the league standings with Michigan Tech.  Bowling Green has 14 points and not unlike Minnesota State, has two games in hand with Michigan Tech.

About Bowling Green:  The Falcons, who enter this weekend having won their last five games, stand 9-3-3 overall and are 6-2-2 WCHA for the year. BGSU is paced offensively by junior forwards  Matt Pohlkamp (5-6--1) and Kevin Dufour (7-2--9), along with sophomore defenseman Mark Friedman (2-7--9). Sophomore Chris Neil (6-2-3, 1.55, .940) has started 11 of 15 games this year for the Falcons. Chris Bergeron (Miami '93) is in his sixth season as head coach of the Bowling Green men's hockey program and owns a 89-102-28 mark behind the Falcons bench.

Mavericks vs. Falcons:  The Mavericks are 5-3-1 all-time in the series vs. with the Falcons and have gone 3-2-1 in games with BGSU in Bowling Green.

Stats Stuff:  As a team Minnesota State is outshooting its opponents 523-363 through the team's first 16 games. The Mavericks, who have outshot their opponents in 12 of their 16 games on the season, rank first in the nation for fewest shots on goal allowed per game (22.69) and rank fourth in shots on goal margin with +10.0 SOGM mark. Minnesota State has scored the first goal in five of its 16 games this year and is 4-0-1 in those games.

WCHA Noteables: Senior forward Teddy Blueger, who erupted for a school record five points on a goal and four assists in the first period of Saturday's 6-2 win over Alaska Anchorage, was named WCHA Offensive Player of the Week.  The annoucement regarding Blueger's award is located HERE.

Freshman netminder Jason Pawloski, who picked up his first career shut-out in Friday's 2-0 win over the Seawolves and stands undefeated for 2015-16, was named WCHA Rookie of the Week and the announcement for that award is located HERE.

On Tap:  Following the two games with Bowling Green Dec. 4-5, the Mavericks are scheduled to close out the pre-holiday part of their schedule Dec. 11-12 when Alabama-Huntsville visits Mankato for a pair of league contests.