Box Score MANKATO, Minn. – Zach Krajnik notched his first career hat trick and No. 14 Minnesota State pulled away from Lake Superior State 4-1 in the first game of the CCHA Mason Cup quarterfinals Friday night at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center.
 
Krajnik, announced earlier in the day as a finalist for CCHA Defensive Forward of the Year, had one goal and six assists entering the game and tallied a pair of even strength markers in the first period, followed by an empty net late in the third.
 
Brian Carrabes (one goal, one assist) and Luigi Benincasa (two assists) also help the top-seeded Mavericks to their 18^th straight win in the first round of the conference tournament, a streak stemming back to 2016. Alex Tracy stopped 20 of 21 shots to collect his 23^rd win of the season in goal. Tracy continues to lead NCAA Division I in goals against average and save percentage.
 
"I think the last time (I scored a hat trick) I was probably ten," laughed Krajnik. "It feels great but I couldn't have done it without my linemates. Those guys do an amazing job. Also Mason Wheeler and Campbell Cichosz on the back end. We know when the puck goes back there, it's coming out. Just having so many defensemen that do their job exquisitely. It really helps us have success."
 
"I think he should be the Defensive Forward of the Year personally," head coach Luke Strand said of Krajnik. "He is so dependable and reliable. He's kind of the doctor out there. Whatever line we put him on, he fixes over and over. Good for him to be rewarded. He does it the right way. He doesn't cheat the game. When he delivers, it's so good for our team."
 
The Mavericks outshot the Lakers 26-21 and killed three minor penalties with the help of Cichosz, who led the team with five blocked shots.
 
In the first period, Zach Krajnik's pass in the low slot deflected off a defenseman and through LSSU goaltender Rorke Applebee for a 1-0 lead at 5:12. Krajnik came from behind the goal line after Kaden Bohlsen (5) held it in at the left hash and Benincasa fed the pass low.
 
Krajnik put away his second of the night when he shimmied between the circles to his backhand and deposited the puck top shelf at 13:28. Benincasa collected his 15^th assist and Carrabes added a second assist.
 
Luke Levandowski's point shot deflected off Timo Bakes' breezers for a Laker goal three minutes later, and the Mavericks took a 2-1 lead into intermission.
 
There was no scoring in the second period, although the Lakers made a strong push and led 12-9 in shots on goal. Evan Murr used his skating to open up space through the middle of the offensive zone but Applebee reached back with the paddle of his stick to keep the puck out at the far post.
 
"Murr-zie is smart," Strand said. "He's sort of a slide defender. He can stick. He can strip. He uses his body positioning so well, and he's got Ralfie (Bergmanis) as a partner who's pretty stellar to insulate him as well. I just thought the totality of the D-core did a nice job keeping things to the outside. We're going to need more of that."
 
Brian Carrabes posted his 10^th goal of the season 3:10 into the third period (from Murr and Bergmanis) and Krajnik gave the Mavericks more separation with the net empty at 18:04 (assisted by Cichosz and Wheeler).
 
"For our group, they had a purpose," Strand said. "They had a plan. They stuck to it. They believe in it and they take care of each other. It's a start. We all know they (LSSU) will have a great push back and response and what we put ourselves into with the next opportunity here is going to be really important."
 
The Mavericks (24-8-3, 18-5-3 CCHA) and No. 8 seed Lakers (12-21-2, 10-15-1) return to the ice Saturday night at 6:07 p.m. CT with a chance to sweep an opening conference playoff series for the ninth straight season.