MANKATO, Minn. – Brian Carrabes was the third period hero for Minnesota State Saturday night as the Mavericks upended Lake Superior State 4-3 at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center in front of 4,935 fans to split the weekend series with the Lakers.
 
Carrabes protected the puck with his backhand, wheeled around a defender in the low slot, and lifted it over the left pad after he collected his own rebound with 46.5 seconds remaining in the game.
 
"Eyes (Adam Eisele) made a really nice play to get me the puck," Carrabes said. "I just took it to the net and got lucky. I have to give the credit to him because he starts that play."
 
The Mavericks applied pressure to start the game even strength. Evan Murr held the zone at the right point and tossed a shot toward the goal for Morton, who got it past the line next to a sprawling goaltender Easton Hesse at 13:32. It was Morton's league-leading 21^st of the season and Murr collected his third point of the weekend.
 
Less than three minutes later, Cole Craft notched the equalizer for Lake Superior State. Following a 3-on-2 rush, Craft poked in the rebound in front of Keenan Rancier. Carter Batchelder took the initial shot from the top of the right circle and assisted as the teams left the ice tied 1-1.
 
On the Laker's first power play, John Herrington deflected a point shot off Will Hillman and in the short side. The Mavericks quickly answered ten seconds later with an odd-man rush. Brett Moravec took a pass from Jordan Steinmetz and worked around Hesse for the 2-2 tie. Steve Bellini picked up the second assist.
 
Soon after, Timo Bakos made the Mavericks pay for a miscue. A blind pass back toward the slot was intercepted and promptly deposited in the goal as LSSU took a 3-2 lead, a shorthanded tally for Bakos.
 
Minnesota State tied the game on their second power play of the third period. Lucas Sowder pulled the puck out of a mass of skates in the slot and left it for Morton to roof his second goal of the game at 7:23.
 
Carrabes scored his eighth of the season in the final minute to seal the win for the Mavericks.
 
"Obviously we saw how electric it was in the building with Brian and the boys celly-ing, but I think that's the most excited I've seen our bench this season getting up and pumping fists between the players and the coaching staff and everybody," Morton said. "It was a fun moment to be a part of."
 
Minnesota State (16-12-4, 12-8-2 CCHA) head to Bemidji State (15-15-2, 13-7-2 CCHA) Friday and Saturday next week to close the regular season. The Mavericks are defending MacNaughton Cup Regular Season Champions.