Mankato, Minn. --- #1-rated Minnesota State used a four-goal second period in cruising to an 8-2 win over St. Thomas Saturday at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center in downtown Mankato.
With tonight's win, the host Mavericks claim the Central Collegiate Hockey Association quarterfinal best-of-three series 2-0.
The game's first goal came from Minnesota State sophomore forward
Connor Gregga, who took advantage of a rebound to score his fourth goal of the season at 2:19 of the first.
Grant Loven got his stick on a shot from the point by
Trevor Zins for a St. Thomas power play goal at 11:27 in evening the score at 1-1. The Mavericks outshot the Tommies by a 7-6 margin in the period.
The Mavericks outshot the Tommies by a 26-2 margin and scored four times in the second period to take control of the game.
Minnesota State took a 2-1 lead when
Ryan Sandelin deflected
Nathan Smith's blast from the left circle into the net for a power play marker at 6:08 of the second period. The goal is the 20
th of the season for Sandelin.
Lucas Sowder ripped a shot that beat Thome on the glove side for his seventh goal of the season at 9:13 after taking a cross-ice pass from
Sam Morton. Senior forward
Reggie Lutz tallied on the power play with his 13
th goal of the year giving Minnesota State a 4-1 advantage at 14:44. Morton, who scored twice in Friday's 3-2 win, got his eighth goal of the season when walked in on the left side and beat Thome high on the blocker side at 15:58.
The Tommies pulled within three at 2:11 of the third when
Tim Piechowski tallied his fifth goal of the season. Maverick sophomore center
Ondrej Pavel got his ninth goal of the season at 11:39, taking a pass from Gregga before snapping a shot past Thome for a 6-2 Minnesota State lead. Junior forward
Cade Borchardt notched his 15
th goal of the year, redirecting senior defenseman
Wyatt Aamodt's shot into the net at 13:06. A backhander by Pavel at 16:12 made it 8-2 to close out scoring in the game.
The Mavericks outshot the Tommies by a 50-14 margin in the contest.
Morton (1-2—3) and Pavel (2-1—3) both finished with three-point games.
Senior netminder
Dryden McKay finished with 12 saves and stands 33-4-0 on the season with the win. His 33 victories move him into a tie for third on the NCAA Division I men's hockey single-season list. The NCAA men's hockey record for wins in a season is 34 and is shared by
Marty Turco (Michigan, 1995-96) and
Robb Stauber (Minnesota in 1987-88).
The win is the 33
rd of the year for Minnesota State and establishes a school record for most wins in a season (previous record of 32 wins was set 2018-19).
The Mavericks (33-5-0), winners of their last 13 games and 22 of their last 23 outings, host a CCHA semifinal game next Saturday in their next action.
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