Men's Hockey | 1/27/2018 10:09:00 PM

    Mankato, Minn. ---   In an exhibition game between seventh-rated Minnesota State and the USA Hockey NTDP U18s in Mankato Saturday, it was the host Mavericks earning the 5-3 victory.

The Mavericks outshot the U18s by a 12-6 margin in the first period and built a 2-1 lead in the process.  Defenseman Connor Mackey ripped a shot that beat Drew DeRidder stickside at 3:30. But an Oliver Wahlstrom tally at 14:26 knotted the score at 1-1.  The Mavericks responded less than a minute later when Reggie Lutz deflected a shot from Josh French past DeRidder at 15:05.

Wahlstrom evened it at 2-2 on a goal where he used a Maverick defenseman as a screen before ripping a shot over Jason Pawloski's right shoulder at 5:37 of the second frame.  Mackey had a hand in Minnesota State's third goal when his shot was deflected by Marc Michaelis into the net at 7:52 for a power play marker that allowed the Mavericks to regain their one-goal lead.  Jared Spooner's wrister found the back of the net at 13:40 in giving the Mavericks a 4-2 lead. Then at 14:58, French collected a rebound and lifted the puck past DeRidder to make it a 5-2 Minnesota State advantage.

Tyler Weis fired a shot that leaked through Pawloski's pads at 6:51 of the final period to close out the scoring.

Pawloski, who stopped 27 shots in the contest, was credited with the win.  Mackey, French and Lutz all ended the contest with two points with the trio each contributing a goal and an assist. 

This was the fourth meeting between Minnesota State and the USA Hockey NTDP U18s and the Mavericks now own an all-time record of 2-0-2 in the series.
Minnesota State, which stands 19-7-0 for 2017-18, continues home action next weekend with WCHA-foe Alaska Anchorage visiting Mankato for a two-game series set for Friday and Saturday.

Mike Hastings, Minnesota State head coach, commented following the game.


 
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