Mankato, Minn. ---  Nathan Smith's goal late in the second period and a stellar performance from netminder Dryden McKay paced Minnesota State to a 1-0 win over St. Cloud State in a battle between the two top-rated teams in men's college hockey Friday.

The visiting Huskies (ranked #1 by USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine and #2 by USCHO) outshot the Mavericks (#1 by USCHO and #2 by USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine) by a 7-4 margin in the first period, but the game stood tied 0-0 through the first 20 minutes of action.

Minnesota State had several good scoring chances in the second period, but it wasn't until Smith. a junior center, took a backhand pass from Julian Napravnik from behind the SCSU net before rifling a shot that beat David Hrenak high on the glove side.  The goal, which came on the power play at 18:55, is Smith's third of the year. 

Smith was named the Central Collegiate Hockey Association's Forward of the Week after he tallied five points in two wins at Massachusetts last Saturday and Sunday, got his fourth career game-winner with tonight's tally.

McKay earned his second shutout of the season by stopping all 20 SCSU shots in the contest and now with 26 career shutouts, has moved into a tie with Ryan Miller for the NCAA record. Miller played at Michigan State from 1999-2002.

The Mavericks upped their record to 3-0-0 overall with tonight's win and outshot the visiting Huskies by a 29-20 margin in the contest. St. Cloud State, which defeated the Mavericks in last year's NCAA semi-finals before falling to Massachusetts in the national championship game, stands 2-1-0 for 2021-22.

The two teams close out the two-game series Saturday with a 6:07 p.m. face-off scheduled.

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