Men's Hockey | 1/5/2016 9:34:00 AM

Minnesota State is Undefeated in Last Nine Games and Owns 10-6-4 Mark; Huntebrinker Enters Second Half of Season Riding Eight-Game Point-Scoring Streak; Blueger and Knutson Own Five-Game Point-Scoring Streaks; Pawloski Remains Unbeaten With 7-0-4 Mark and Has Started Last Eight Games for Mavericks

On Tap:    18th-rated Minnesota State (10-6-4 overall, 9-1-4 WCHA) hosts Northern Michigan (7-7-6 overall, 5-5-4 WCHA) in Western Collegiate Hockey Association action this weekend in Mankato. MSU and NMU play  at Verizon Wireless Center (4,832) Friday (7:07 p.m.) and Saturday (7:07 p.m.) CST.

Minnesota State Most Recently:  The Mavericks, who have gone 10-2-4 in the last 16 games, enter the series with Northern Michigan riding the crest of a nine-game unbeaten streak (5-0-4). Minnesota State, which is 9-1-4 in WCHA games with the 20 points placing the Mavericks atop the WCHA standings, last played Dec. 11 and 12 when it claimed a pair of home league victories over Alabama Huntsville (2-1, 4-1).

About Northern Michigan:  The Wildcats, who enter this weekend after placing third at the Great Lakes Invitational tournament last weekend in Detroit (3-2 loss to Michigan, 2-1 overtime win over Michigan State), stand 7-7-6 overall and are 5-5-4 WCHA for the year.

NMU is paced offensively by senior forward Darren Nowick (7-6--13) and junior forward Dominik Shine (7-5--12), along with sophomore forward Robbie Payne (7-4--11). Freshman Alve Tolvanen (4-7-6, 2.30 GAA, .930 save percentage) has 17 starts (out of 20 games) this year for the Wildcats. Walt Kyle (Northern Michigan '91) is in his 14th season as head coach of the Northern Michigan men's hockey program and owns a 244-232-63 mark as the Wildcats' bench boss.

Mavericks vs. Wildcats:  Including a pair of ties in Marquette, Mich., earlier this year (Nov. 20-21, 1-1, 2-2), Minnesota State stands 6-1-3 all-time in the series vs. Northern Michigan. The Mavericks are unbeaten in its last seven games against NMU and have not lost to the Wildcats in games played in Mankato (4-0-0).

Pollster:  Minnesota State is 18th in this week's USCHO.com poll, marking the third straight time the Mavericks have appeared in the poll.  The USCHO poll is located HERE.  The USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll is located HERE.

Stats Stuff:  As a team Minnesota State is outshooting its opponents 655-441 through the team's 20 games this year.

The Mavericks, who have outshot their opponents in 15 of their 20 games on the season, rank first in the nation for fewest shots on goal allowed per game (22.05) and rank third in shots on goal margin with a +10.7 SOGM mark.

Minnesota State's current nine-game unbeaten streak, in which it has gone 5-0-4, stands as the longest unbeaten streak in the nation.