What's On Tap: Minnesota State women's hockey hits the road for a two-game Western Collegiate Hockey Association series at St. Cloud State on Friday and Saturday at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center in St. Cloud, Minn. Puck drop of both games is scheduled for 3:07 p.m.   

Looking Back at Last Weekend: The Mavericks (6-17-2, 3-14-1-0 WCHA) lost both games of a two-game series with former-No. 10 ranked North Dakota over the weekend at Verizon Wireless Center. Minnesota State lost the first game 3-2 on Friday and the second game 4-0 on Saturday.    

Hockey Day Minnesota 2017: Saturday's game with St. Cloud State is part of Hockey Day Minnesota 2017 and will be broadcast on Fox Sports North PLUS. Friday's game will be broadcast on Fox Sports North.

On Keys from the Point: Junior defenseman Anna Keys (2-5--7), who leads all Maverick defenseman in points in 2016-17, recorded two assists — both on the power play — against former-No. 10 ranked North Dakota on Friday afternoon. Keys' two points moved her into a tie with Shelby Moteyunas (2011-15) for fifth place for career points by a Maverick defenseman with 26. 

Power Play Specialist: Sophomore defenseman Megan Hinze (5-1--6) leads the Mavericks in power play goals in 2016-17 with four — tied for the second most in the WCHA. Hinze is also tied with junior forward Lindsey Coleman (5-7--12) and sophomore forward Emily Antony (5-7--12) for the team lead in power play points (5) — tied for the ninth most in the WCHA.   

Power Play Proficiency: The Maverick power play has improved of late. Minnesota State, which scored two power play goals against former-No. 10 ranked North Dakota on Friday, has converted five of its last 24 power play attempts (.263) dating back to Dec. 9. Prior to that, Minnesota State had been successful on 3-of-50 power play attempts (.060) to start the season.
       
May I Assist?:  Sophomore forwards Emily Antony (5-7--12), Corbin Boyd (2-7--9) and junior forward Lindsey Coleman (5-7--12) are tied for the team lead in assists. 

The Quade Update: Senior netminder Brianna Quade (3-12-2), who tied her career high in wins in a season with Minnesota State's 2-1 come-from-behind victory over former-No. 3 ranked Minnesota Duluth on Dec. 10, led the nation with 152 saves in December. Against former-No. 10 ranked North Dakota on Friday, Quade eclipsed 30 saves for the eighth time this season — stopping 33 shots. She has seen action in 66 career games and recorded 1,928 saves — the fifth-highest save total in Minnesota State history.

Watching AMC: The forward line of sophomores Emily Antony (5-7--12) and Jordan McLaughlin (2-4--6), and junior Lindsey Coleman (5-7--12) has established itself as a potent offensive combination. On Friday, Coleman recorded one goal and one assist against former-No. 10 ranked North Dakota.  

Clogging the Shooting Lanes: The Mavericks lead the WCHA and are third in the nation with 368 blocked shots in 2016-17. Minnesota State has tallied a season-high 22 blocked shots twice: in its 2-1 come-from-behind win over former-No. 3 ranked Minnesota Duluth on Dec. 10, and at home against No. 1 Wisconsin on Oct. 28. Junior defenseman Anna Keys (2-5--7) leads the Mavericks with 45 blocked shots on the season — the sixth most in the WCHA.

Defense on Offense: Senior defenseman Anna Fiegert (1-1--2), sophomore defenseman Megan Hinze (5-1--6) — the WCHA Defensive Player of the Month for December — and junior defenseman Anna Keys (2-5--7) have scored the Mavericks last three game-winning goals. Fiegert, Hinze and Keys garnered the game-winning goals against Bemidji State on Dec. 3, former-No. 3 ranked Minnesota Duluth on Dec. 10 and Union on Dec. 17, respectively. 

Scouting St. Cloud State: The Huskies (6-16-2, 4-13-1-1 WCHA), who are 1-3-1 in their last five games, were swept in a two-game series by No. 1 Wisconsin last weekend. St. Cloud State lost 9-0 on Friday and 2-0 on Saturday. 
 
On offense, the Huskies are led by sophomore forward Julia Tylke (9-8--17) — the team leader in goals, assists, points and power play goals (2). 

In net, freshman Janine Alder (6-13-2) has tallied a .925 save percentage, a 2.49 goals against average and three  shutouts.    

Last Time Around: The Mavericks are 0-1-1 this season against St. Cloud State. The two teams tied 2-2 in their series opener on Oct. 21 at Verizon Wireless Center. St. Cloud State won the shootout 2-1. The next day, the Mavericks lost 2-0.

Listen to junior forward Lindsey Coleman discuss her improved offense, the power play, Hockey Day Minnesota 2017 and facing St. Cloud State below: