Anchorage, Alaska ---   Minnesota State got a pair of goals from junior forward Zeb Knutson and junior netminder Aaron Nelson stopped all 13 shots as the Mavericks skated to a 5-0 win over Alaska Anchorage in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association game played Saturday in Anchorage, Alaska.
 
For the first time since January 14^th the Mavericks scored the first goal of the game when junior forward Zeb Knutson shelfed a backhand past Olivier Mantha at 6:45 of the opening stanza on assists from senior forwards Michael Huntebrinker and Zach Stepan. The goal is Knutson's ninth of the year.  It became a 2-0 Minnesota State lead at 15:34 after junior forward Brad McClure fired a rocket that beat Mantha high on the glove side for his 13^th goal of the year. Again, a nice passing sequence positioned McClure for the scoring chance with Marc Michaelis and Ian Scheid providing the assists on the play.
 
Knutson's second goal of the game, which came at 11:35 of the second period after Huntebrinker found him all alone at the right post for the tap in, made it a 3-0 Maverick lead. 
 
Junior forward C.J. Franklin got a shorthanded empty net tally at 13:10 of the third period with his 11th goal of the year coming on assists by Max Coatta and Sean Flanagan, then Huntebrinker one-timed a shot that beat Mantha high on the shortside at 17:38 for the game's final scoring.  Huntebrinker finished with three points in the game with a goal and two assists.
 
Aaron Nelson, who turned aside 13 shots in earning his second career shutout, stands 4-2-1 for the year with tonight's win.
 
The Mavericks, who are 16-10-4 overall and 12-8-4 in WCHA contests for the year, are idle next weekend prior to closing out their 2016-17 home regular-season schedule with a two-game series vs. Northern Michigan Feb. 17-18.

Head coach Mike Hastings commented following the game.



 
 
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