What's On Tap: Minnesota State women's hockey wraps up a season-long eight-game homestand with a two-game Western Collegiate Hockey Association series against No. 6 Minnesota at Verizon Center this weekend. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:07 p.m., on Friday and 3:07 p.m., on Saturday.

Last Time on the Ice: Minnesota State (2-5-1, 1-3-0-0 WCHA) split a two-game WCHA series with St. Cloud State on Friday and Saturday at Verizon Center. The Mavericks dropped the series opener 4-2 before rebounding to win the series finale 3-1. On Saturday, the Mavericks scored three third-period goals to overcome a 1-0 deficit and earn their first WCHA victory of 2017-18.  

Mighty McLaughlin: Junior forward Jordan McLaughlin (3-4--7), who had one goal and one assist in the series with St. Cloud State last weekend, leads the Mavericks in points, is tied for the team lead in goals and is second in assists. She is tied for second in the WCHA with two game-winning goals. Her latest game-winning goal came in Minnesota State's 3-1 comeback win over St. Cloud State on Saturday.

Game-Tying Goal: Sophomore forward Demi Gardner (1-1--2) scored her first goal of the season in Minnesota State's 3-1 comeback victory against St. Cloud State on Saturday. Gardner's goal tied the game at 1-1.

Phenomenal Freshman: Freshman forward Brittyn Fleming (0-6--6) — the team leader in assists — recorded her sixth assist of the season in the Mavericks' 3-1 come-from-behind win against St. Cloud State on Saturday. Fleming's assist came on Sophomore forward Demi Gardner's (1-1--2) game-tying goal.
 
Senior Leadership: Senior forward and alternate captain Hannah Davidson (1-1--2) got on the score sheet for the first time this season with an assist against St. Cloud State on Friday. She came back on Saturday and scored her first goal of the season to cap off the scoring in the Mavericks' 3-1 comeback win over the Huskies. Davidson leads all active Mavericks in career goals (19), assists (27) and points (46).
 
Between the Pipes: Sophomore goaltender Chloe Crosby (1-1-1) stopped 21-of-22 shots to help the Mavericks defeat St. Cloud State 3-1 on Saturday and earn a WCHA series split.
 
Back to Blocking Shots: The Mavericks finished last season second in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and fourth in the nation with 568 blocked shots. Minnesota State has picked up where it left off — leading the WCHA and ranking third in the nation with 156 blocked shots. Senior defenseman and team captain Anna Keys is third in the nation with 27 blocked shots, while defenseman Jessica Kondas is tied for second in the nation amongst freshmen with 21. Minnesota State's season high for blocked shots is 33, which was achieved against then-No. 9 ranked Robert Morris on Oct. 7. The 33 blocked shots is the highest total by the Mavericks since they recorded 34 blocked shots at Wisconsin on Feb. 26, 2016.
 
Scouting Minnesota: No. 6 Minnesota (5-4-1, 4-3-1-0 WCHA) comes to Verizon Center with a 3-2 record in its last five games after being swept by No. 1 Wisconsin in a two-game WCHA series last weekend at Ridder Arena. The Golden Gophers lost the series opener 3-2 on Saturday and the series finale 2-1 in overtime on Sunday.
 
Senior forward Caitlin Reilly (6-4--10) leads the Gophers in goals, while senior defenseman Sydney Baldwin(1-10--11) paces the team in assists and points. 
 
Last season, The Mavericks finished 0-4-0 against the Gophers, including 5-0 and 5-3 losses at Verizon Center.
 
Looking Ahead: Minnesota State hits the road for a two-game WCHA series with No. 4 Ohio State on Nov. 10-11.