Mankato, Minn. --- #16 Minnesota State outshot Lake Superior State by a 57-14 margin Saturday in dropping a 2-0 decision in the second game of the best-of-three WCHA play-off series.
With the series now knotted at 1-1, the deciding game will be played Sunday night.
The Mavericks owned a 21-5 advantage in first period shots on goal, but could not put the puck past Laker netminder
Gordon Defiel and after the first 20 minutes of action, the score stood 0-0.
Lake Superior State took advantage of a power play opportunity in the second period at the 16-minute mark when
J.T. Henke one-timed a backdoor pass
from Mitch Hults past
Cole Huggins for the game's first goal.
It became a 2-0 lead for the Lakers at 10:15 of the third after
Austin McKay's turnaround shot from 30 feet out bounced off a Minnesota State defender's glove before tumbling past a surprised Huggins on the stick side.
The Mavericks outshot Lake Superior State by a 57-14 margin in the game, marking the 32nd time this year Minnesota State has outshot its opponents this year. The 57 shots is the most by Minnesota State since March 13 of 2015 when the Mavericks put 59 shots on goal in a WCHA first-round play-off game vs. Lake Superior State.
Junior netminder
Cole Huggins, who finished with 12 saves. stands 11-10-2 on the season with tonight's decision and owns a 36-20-3 mark for his career.
The Mavericks went zero-for-six in power plays in the game, while Lake Superior State finished with a one-for-three ledger with the man advantage.
Minnesota State, which has gone 8-4-2 in its last 14 games, stands 19-12-7 overall on the season.
The Mavericks and the Lakers conclude the series Sunday night with a 7:07 p.m. face-off scheduled.
Junior defenseman
Carter Foguth and head coach
Mike Hastings commented following the game.
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