MANKATO, Minn. – Minnesota State men's hockey downed Alaska 4-1 to advance to the second round of the 2017 Western Collegiate Hockey Association Playoffs.

Minnesota State got the action started at the Verizon Wireless Center with a goal at 9:51. Senior center Jordan Nelson scored his fourth goal of the season and his first in the 2017 play-offs to give the Mavericks a 1-0 lead. Sophomore forward Max Coatta and freshman forward Parker Tuomie were credited with assists as Nelson, who was found in space over the right circle, fired to the near side of the net for the goal. Minnesota State finished the period aggressively, breaking on multiple man advantage opportunities and outshooting the Nanooks 15-10.

End to end action continued for the Mavericks well into the second period. Minnesota State successfully outlasted an Alaska power play to keep its 1-0 advantage with 15:00 left in the period. The Mavericks extended their lead at the 8:24 mark of the period. Junior winger Zeb Knutson scored Minnesota State's first power play goal of the series after his shot from the left circle deflected off the skate of a defenseman and into the Alaska net. Sophomore netminder Jason Pawloski made a pair of saves in the final two minutes of the period to keep the Minnesota State advantage at two.

Penalties dictated the pace of play for Minnesota State in the third period. The Mavericks conceded a goal to Alaska's Ross Heidt at 2:11 and then had to kill a Nanook power play. Minnesota State successfully defended two power plays in the period. After Nelson won a face-off, Coatta scored for the Mavericks to extend their lead back to two goals with 4:50 left in the game. Coatta capped the scoring, adding an empty-net goal in the last minute to seal the Mavericks' 4-1 win.

Minnesota State, which was 1-for-3 on the power play, put 37 shots on goal in the contest. The Nanooks were 0-for-3 with the man advantage.

Pawloski made 29 saves in the game to bring his record to 7-3-2 on the year.

The Mavericks are 21-11-4 overall on the season.

Minnesota State will compete in the second round of the 2017 WCHA Playoffs, March 10-12. Their opponent will be determined after the completion of all WCHA first round games.