Off the Hop
Minnesota State extended its winning streak to eight games before absorbing a loss in the second game of a Western Collegiate Hockey Association home series vs. Bemidji State last weekend. The Mavericks, who downed the visiting Beavers 3-2 Friday before Saturday's 4-2 loss, own a 23-4-1 overall record.

The Mavericks, who have won 18 of their last 21 games and are rated third in this week's USCHO poll, stand 55-25-9 in the all-time series with this weekend's opponent Alaska Anchorage. Including 7-0 and 3-0 wins over the Seawolves in Mankato back in November, Minnesota State heads into this weekend's series having won the nine meetings with UAA.

Behind  the Bench
Minnesota State has gone 206-84-22 under the tutelage of head coach Mike Hastings, who is in his eighth season in charge of the Mavericks. No program in the nation has won more games (206) during the time Hastings has been behind the MSU bench.

Big D
Junior winger Dallas Gerads had a goal in both games vs. Bemidji State last weekend in raising his season totals to 4-11--15 in 23 games played. His goal in last Friday's 3-2 win over the Beavers is his second game-winning goal this year and the seventh GWG of his three-year college career.

National  Park
Senior forward Parker Tuomie, who registered an assist on Nathan Smith's goal in last Friday's 3-2 win over Bemidji State, has 41-80--121 in 142 games for his four-year Minnesota State career. His 121 points rank eighth on Minnesota State's career point-scoring list.

Connie Mack
Junior defenseman Connor Mackey generated two points on two assists as #3 Minnesota State split a home WCHA series with Bemidji State last weekend. Mackey, who assisted on Dallas Gerads' game-winning goal in Friday's 3-2 win over the Beavers, has 3-12--15 in 26 games played this year.  The Tower Lakes, Ill., native has 14-32--52 with 183 shots on goal, a +39 rating and 85 blocked shots in 108 career games.

Famous Nathan's
Freshman center Nathan Smith amassed two points on a goal and an assist in last weekend's home WCHA series with Bemidji State.  The Hudson, Fla., native collected his sixth goal of the season in Friday's 3-2 win over the Beavers and with 6-13--19 on the year, stands tied for tenth in the nation in freshmen scoring. He enters the weekend riding a three-game scoring streak (2-1--3).

Like Chowder
Freshman forward Lucas Sowder assisted on Nathan Smith's goal in last Friday's 3-2 win over Bemidji State and enters this week's action ranking tied for third in the country in freshmen scoring with 4-19--23 in 24 games played.  Trinity, Fla., native has collected 1-9--10 in the last nine games played.

Through the Looking Glass
Sophomore defenseman Andy Carroll notched his first goal of the season in last Friday's 3-2 home league win over Bemidji State.  For the year, the Northfield, Minn., native has 1-3--4 in 23 games and in 52 career games has 2-7--9.

Regarding Gerard
Senior forward Charlie Gerard scored his 11th goal of the season last Saturday vs. Bemidji State and enters this week with 11-8--19 in 27 games played.  For his four-year Minnesota State career, Gerard had posted 28-31--59 in 111 games.

Sweet 16
Junior winger Reggie Lutz, who scored his ninth goal of the year in last Saturday's home contest vs. Bemidji State, has 9-15 in 28 games in 2019-20. His nine goals this year represent a career-single-season high.

At the Crease
Sophomore Dryden McKay, a five-time Western Collegiate Hockey Association Goaltender of the Week honoree this year, stands 22-3-1 with a .940 save percentage and 1.35 goals against average on the season.  The Downers Grove, Ill., native leads the country in wins, goals against average and shutouts (he has seven) and is tied for second in save percentage.  McKay stands alone atop the school single-season record for shutouts with seven and his 11 career shutouts are tied for first all-time at Minnesota State (Cole Huggins (MSU 2013-17) also had 11).

Put a Little Mustard on It
Senior center Josh French assisted on a Dallas Gerads goal in last Saturday's game vs. Bemidji State and has racked up 2-1--3 in the last four games.  French, who has 3-5--8 in 28 games played this year, has 12-20--32 in 140 career games played.  French has 207 face-off wins this year.

For the Defense
Junior defenseman Ian Scheid, who hasn't missed a game in his four years with the Mavericks, has 0-14--14 in 28 games played in 2019-20.  Scheid, who heads into this weekend's series with UAA owning 0-3--3 in the last five games, has 22-67--89 in 149 career games and stands sixth on Minnesota State's career scoring list for defensemen.  

Metrics
Minnesota State has scored the game's first goal in 22 of 28 games this year and  the Mavericks own a 20-1-1 record when doing so.

The Mavericks enter this weekend's series with UAA ranking first in the nation in wins (23),second in goals against average (1.54) and second in power play percentage (.280).

Turnout Terms
Minnesota State's crowds for last weekend's series vs. Bemidji State included attendance figures of 5,013 and 5,232 for Friday's and Saturday's games, respectively.  Saturday's number represents the fifth-highest home attendance ever for a Maverick men's hockey game and the 10,245 spectators for the weekend are the third-most ever for a two-game home series.