What's On Tap: Minnesota State women's hockey welcomes Lindenwood to Verizon Center for a two-game nonconference series on Friday and Saturday. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:07 p.m., on Friday and 3:07 p.m., on Saturday.
 
Last Time on the Ice: The Mavericks (2-13-1, 1-9-0-0 Western Collegiate Hockey Association) swept a two-game exhibition series with the Minnesota Whitecaps last weekend at Verizon Center. The Mavericks won the first game 5-1 and the second game 5-2.

Phenomenal Freshman: Freshman center Brittyn Fleming (2-9--11) is the Mavericks' team leader in both assists (9) and points (11) this season. Fleming, who is on a three-game point streak, has tallied a point in five of her last six games played.
 
Keeping up with Corbin: Junior forward Corbin Boyd (3-6--9) tallied one goal and one assist for two points against BU on Nov. 24. She assisted on the Mavericks' first goal, and scored the second on the power play. Boyd ranks second on the team with six assists, tied for second with three goals and third with nine points.
 
Poinar's Play: Sophomore forward Sofia Poinar (2-1--3) scored her second goal of the season against Northeastern on Nov. 25. With the goal, Poinar has tallied one point in three of her last four games played.
 
Mighty McLaughlin: Junior forward Jordan McLaughlin (5-5--10) – the team leader in goals – has tied her collegiate highs for goals, assists and points in a single season. She previously tallied five goals and 10 points in 2015-16, and garnered five assists in both 2015-16 and 2016-17. In the Mavericks' season-opening 4-1 win at Lindenwood on Sept. 29, McLaughlin scored twice, including a short-handed goal. She also leads the team with two game-winning goals in 2017-18.   
 
Power-Play Specialist: Sophomore defenseman Jordan Jackson (3-3--6) leads Minnesota State in power-play goals (2) and power-play points (3) this season. Jackson has established herself as an offensive threat from the blue line — leading all Maverick defensemen in goals (3), and points (6). 
 
Cool Like Conway: Senior forward Amanda Conway (3-2--5) leads all current Mavericks in goals against Lindenwood with four. The winger scored both Maverick goals in their 2-2 tie at Lindenwood on Sept. 30.
 
The Bustad Blitz: Senior forward Sara Bustad and the Mavericks showed the ability to score in their exhibition series with the Minnesota Whitecaps last weekend. The Mavericks scored 10 goals in the two games and Bustad tallied a hat trick in the series finale.
 
Balanced Attack: Fourteen different Mavericks have scored a goal this season, including nine who have scored at least two goals. Junior forward Jordan McLaughlin (5-5--10) leads the team with five goals, while junior forward Corbin Boyd (3-6--9) senior forward Lindsey Coleman (3-4--7), senior forward Amanda Conway (3-2--5) and sophomore defenseman Jordan Jackson (3-3--6) are tied for second with three goals each.

Clogging the Shooting Lanes: 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 288 blocked shots this season. The Mavericks enter the weekend leading the nation in blocked shots per game (18.00).
 
Senior defenseman and team captain Anna Keys enters the week tied for sixth in the nation with 40 blocked shots. 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 the Lions: The Lions (3-10-1, 3-5-0 College Hockey America) are coming off a two-game series split at Syracuse on Friday and Saturday. Lindenwood lost the first game 4-1, before rebounding for a 2-0 shutout over the Orange in the series finale.  
 
Lindenwood is paced offensively by sophomore forward Taylor Girard (10-7--17) — the team leader in both goals and points. Girard is tied for the team lead with seven assists.
 
Looking Ahead: Minnesota State travels to Bemidji, Minn., for its final series of 2017 against Bemidji State on Dec. 15-16.