Houghton, Mich. --- Sophomore goaltender Jason Pawloski did not allow a goal and junior right winger Zeb Knutson scored his seventh career game-winning goal as Minnesota State skated to a 1-0 victory over Michigan Tech in the second game of a Western Collegiate Hockey Association best-of-three semifinal playoff series at John MacInnes Student Ice Arena in Houghton, Mich., Saturday night.

With the win, the Mavericks knot the series at 1-1 and force a deciding game tomorrow night.
 

The game opened with physical play from both teams leading to a scoreless first period of action. Michigan Tech had an opportunity midway through with two-on-one chance but Pawloski denied the shot to keep the game locked, 0-0. The Mavericks controlled the period with 10 shots in comparison to the Huskies four. Knutson was able to find the back of net on a rebound in front late in the period, but the play would be overturned for goaltender interference. After 20 minutes of play the score stood 0-0.

In the second period, the Mavericks delivered the game's first (and what turned out to be, only) goal as defenseman Clint Lewis used a stretch pass to connect with Knutson for the breakaway goal at 6:29. The goal is Knutson's 15th of the season.

Physical played carried over into the final period of play and Michigan Tech threatened with 9:55 remaining as right wing Joel L'Esperance raced towards the net and got a shot off only to be rejected by a nice glove save by Pawloski.

Minnesota State held the edge in shots, 23-15, and faceoffs, 29-23 and both teams finished 0-for-4 on the power-play.

Pawloski, who started for the fifth consecutive game, recorded his third shutout of the season with 15 saves in raising his record to 8-3-2 on the year.

Following the win, the Mavericks are 22-12-4 overall on the season. The two teams return to action at John MacInnes Student Ice Arena Sunday with face-off scheduled for 6:07 p.m., CST start.

Head coach Mike Hastings commented following the game.

 

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