Mankato,  Minn.  ---   #20 Minnesota State got a pair of goals from sophomore forward C.J. Franklin in claiming a 5-1 win over visiting Lake Superior State in Western Collegiate Hockey Association action Saturday at Verizon Wireless Center in downtown Mankato.

After a scoreless opening period in which the Mavericks held a 12-5 shots on goal advantage, Minnesota State scored three times midway through the second period to take control of the game.

Junior forward Jordan Nelson intercepted an attempted pass from Laker netminder Nick Kossoff before backhanding the puck into the vacant net 45 seconds into the period in giving Minnesota State a 1-0 lead. The goal, which is Nelson's second of the season, is his first career shorthanded marker. It became a 2-0 Maverick lead at 9:52 of the second after C.J. Franklin's laser from the top of the circles beat Kossoff high on the stick side.  The goal is Franklin's team-high eighth of the year.  Junior Michael Huntebrinker's one-timer found the back of the net at 12:19. The goal, which is his sixth of the season, gives Huntebrinker 6-7—13 in the last 14 games.

Franklin got his second of the game (and ninth goal of the year) with the Mavericks on a power play at the 1:32 mark of the third period.  LSSU freshman forward C.J. Hayes tallied on a breakaway at 7:53 to cut the Minnesota State lead to 4-1, but a power play tally by senior forward Bryce Gervais at 15:42 allowed the Mavericks to regain their four-goal cushion. The goal is the eighth of the year and the 59^th of the Battleford, Sask., native's four-year Minnesota State career.

The Mavericks finished the game with a two-for-five performance with the man advantage.  The Lakers were zero-for-five on the power play in the game and Minnesota State has now gone the last 12 games without allowing a power play goal (MSU has held opponents scoreless on their last 41 power play opportunities). The last time Minnesota State allowed a power play goal was Nov. 21 in a game vs. Northern Michigan.

Junior netminder Cole Huggins, who started for the second consecutive night, stopped 22 shots in the game to earn the win and now stands 5-6-0 for the season.

Minnesota State, which stands 13-8-5 overall and is 12-3-5 in WCHA games, takes a break from league action as it participates in the North Star College Cup next weekend in St. Paul.  The Mavericks play St. Cloud State Saturday and will face either Bemidji State or the University of Minnesota in Sunday's game.

Head coach  Mike Hastings commented following the game.