MANKATO, Minn. — Minnesota State (2-4-0) completed its sweep of St. Thomas (1-3-0) 2-0 Saturday as the Mavericks shutout the Tommies 2-0.
Minnesota State held St. Thomas scoreless despite being outshot 30-25. Minnesota State totaled 25 shots in the game, exceeding its season average of 18.8.
St. Thomas generated the early pressure in the first period, putting two shots on
Lassi Lehti and forcing several Minnesota State blocks before
Gus Thorp's cross-checking penalty gave the visitors the first power play. Minnesota State killed that chance, then began to create more offense through the middle of the period and put multiple shots on William Ingemann, including two on its own power play after Kevin Anderson's tripping penalty.
Sawyer Scholl broke through at 16:53, scoring at even strength off assists from
Liam Hupka and
Jakob Stender to put Minnesota State ahead. UST went back on the power play after a late
Reid Morich holding penalty, but the first period ended with Minnesota State leading 1-0.
Minnesota State finished off St. Thomas (MN)'s carryover power play at 19:37, then put early shots on Ingemann through
Alex Zetterberg, Scholl, Stender and
Jordan Ronn. UST pushed back after matching roughing penalties at 14:12, with Lehti making stops and Justin Kipkie hitting the pipe before the advantage ended at 12:12.
The visitors generated another power-play stretch after
Will Skahan's cross-checking penalty at 9:56, but Minnesota State got through it with saves from Lehti and a blocked shot by
Gus Thorp. Minnesota State created chances later in the frame and went on a power play at 3:20 after Kipkie's tripping penalty, but neither team scored in the second period.
Minnesota State had two early power play opportunities after St. Thomas penalties at 18:09 and 17:23, putting attempts on Ingemann through
Mason Kraft and
Sam Court while
Luigi Benincasa had two shots blocked. UST generated much of the middle-period pressure after matching roughing penalties at 9:04, but Lehti handled the attempts that reached him as the third remained scoreless. After St. Thomas pulled its goalie at 1:36,
Liam Watkins blocked a Lucas Van Vliet shot before Zetterberg scored into the empty net at 1:10 off Watkins' assist as Minnesota State finished off a 2-0 win.
Lehti finished with 30 saves in his first shutout with the Mavericks. Lehti has recorded at least 30 saves in two consecutive games and totaled 81 saves on the weekend. Scholl scored the game-winning goal, put two shots on goal and added a blocked shot. Zetterberg scored on four shots and added a blocked shot. Zetterberg has recorded points in two consecutive games. Hupka recorded an assist and finished at plus-2.
Up next, Minnesota State hosts Lake Superior State on Friday, at 7:07 p.m. at Mayo Clinic HSEC.
