Mankato, Minn. --- A pair of goals in the third period gave #20 Minnesota State a 2-1 victory over Alabama Huntsville in Western Collegiate Hockey Association action Friday in Mankato.
With tonight's result, Minnesota State extends its unbeaten streak to eight games.
The Mavericks fell behind in the first period when Alabama Huntsville opened the scoring after Chad Brears tipped Max McHugh's shot past Jason Pawloski at the 12:06 mark.
The Mavericks and the Chargers played through a scoreless second period and Minnesota State broke its drought at the 1:06 mark of the final stanza. Junior forward C.J. Franklin made a nice pass to a streaking Michael Huntebrinker and Huntebrinker's nifty move allowed him to put the puck past a prone Carmine Guerriero. The goal is Huntebrinker's second of the season and he now has a point in eight straight games. A defensive zone turnover by the Chargers led to Teddy Blueger's goal, again on a creative pass from Franklin. Blueger's fifth goal of the season put the Mavericks on top for the first time in the game.
Minnesota State outshot the Chargers by a 32-9 margin in the win and freshman netminder Jason Pawloski, who started his eighth consecutive game, stopped eight shots in upping his record to 6-0-4 on the season.
Minnesota State, which stands 9-6-4 overall and owns a 8-1-4 WCHA mark, closes out the WCHA series Saturday night with a 7:07 p.m. face-off scheduled with the Chargers.
Head coach Mike Hastings commented following the win.
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