Wiley recognized by WCHA...

Sophomore forward Jason Wiley was named WCHA co-Offensive Player of the Week. Wiley got four points (2g, 2a) this last weekend as the Mavericks swept No. 20 St. Cloud State. Wiley has done a nice job establishing himself offensively this season to add to a sophomore class that gives the team an excellent amount of depth in their forward lines. He has good hands, plays physically and does a good job finishing when he gets the chance.

Getting closer...

The Mavericks still were not in the USCHO/CSTV top-20 rankings this week, but did receive more votes. MSU is coming off a big sweep over now 20th-ranked St. Cloud and really could have easily found their way into that top 20. The Mavs got a spark late in Friday's game and finally got that break they have been waiting so long for. R.J. Linder scored his first goal of the season and from that point on the Mavericks were electric and put themselves in a great position to make a late season run. They host No. 4 Denver this weekend, which will be a tough test, but hopefully they can use this last series as a building point for next weekend and the rest of the season.

#13 St. Cloud State at MSU IN GAME

Not much action to speak of this period. This game has been played along the boards and in the neutral zone for the most part. Two defensive zone break downs led to virtually the same back- door goals that were just 24 seconds apart for the Huskies. A disappointing start in a big series for MSU.

1st Period Scoring Summary
12:15 - Dey (Mosey, Lasch) 1-0 SCSU
12:39 - Hartman (Marvin, Borgen) 2-0 SCSU

The second period was more of the same for the Mavericks, with SCSU scoring at 13:13 on yet another back-door goal where Zacharias had no chance. MSU is going to need a major spark and had better get started quickly if they plan to make a comeback.

2nd Period Scoring Summary
13:13 - Mosey (Volpei) 3-0 SCSU

R.J. Linder's first goal of the season made the Mavericks an entirely new team in the third period as they made an unbelievable comeback to win 5-3. The gravity of this win can not be put in to words as the Mavericks have undoubtedly revived their hopes to make a run at the end of the season and have some desparately needed momentum going in to St. Cloud tomorrow.

3rd Period Scoring Summary
11:45 - Linder (Wiley) 3-1 SCSU
12:20 - Bruess (Mouillierat, Friesen) 3-2 SCSU
15:11 - Wiley (Irwin, Harrison) 3-3
18:43 - Berge (Kalinski) 4-3 MSU
19:08 - Kilburg (Bruess, Hanson) EN 5-3 MSU

#13 St. Cloud State at MSU PRE GAME

About 20 minutes until the puck drops here at Alltel center. The Huskies have some good scorers that MSU will have to keep off the board along with staying out of the penalty box to keep the WCHA's best power play for SCSU off the ice. The Mavericks changed up the line pairings last Saturday vs. North Dakota, but look to have reverted to the old lines for the most part.

Here are the starting line-ups for tonight, with starters in italics:

MINNESOTA STATE
Hanson-Bruess-Mouillierat
Kalinski-Harrison-Berge
Irwin-Sackrison-Wiley
Gaulrapp-Galiardi-Stewart

Youds-Friesen
Davis-Kilburg
Linder-Canzanello

Zacharias
Tormey
Lee

ST. CLOUD STATE
Nodl-Roe-Volpei
Mosey-Dey-Lasch
Borgen-Marvin-Hartman
Mjelleli-Olson-Oslund

Raboin-Stephenson
Swanson-Anderson
Brocklehurst-Barta

Weslosky
Dunn

Dropping Out...

The Mavericks dropped out of the USCHO/CSTV top-20 rankings this week, but were still receiving votes.

After suffering a sweep at the hands of sixth-ranked North Dakota, the Mavericks now look at a home-and-home series with No. 13 St. Cloud State with Friday being at Alltel Center and Saturday at the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud. The Mavs sure could have used some points this last weekend, but with the league the way it is, it isn't over until all of the games are played. With only seven points separating six teams in the league, the race is far from over. It will be an interesting rest of the regular season.

Game 2: #6 North Dakota at #20 MSU IN GAME

The Mavericks came out with more intensity than last night which is a pace they will need to keep up. MSU was given a power play just 21 seconds into the game but were unable to get set up. UND went on the power play soon after but also failed to get anything going. UND found itself on the power play again a short time later and managed to get a goal on a nice shot from the slot. After a shorthanded goal from Duncan to put UND up 2-0, MSU got a much needed goal again from Mick Berge and carry a little momentum going into the second period.

1st Period Scoring Summary
8:34 -- VandeVelde (Chorney, Bina) PPG 1-0 UND
9:58 -- Duncan (Oshie) SHG 2-0 UND
15:47 -- Berge (Sackrison, Youds) 2-1 UND

The Mavericks and Sioux traded goals with the Sioux again cashing in on the power play. The Mavericks got a late goal from Jon Kalinski with under a second remaining when he threw the puck at the net from around the goal line near the left corner and snuck a shot under the pads of Lamoureux. Again the Mavs get a goal late in the period when they need to stay in the game.

2nd Period Scoring Summary
13:55 -- Kozak (Genoway, Frattin) PPG 3-1 UND
19:59 -- Kalinski (Mouillierat, Berge) PPG 3-2 UND

The Sioux got 2 goals 12 seconds apart and that was the clincher as UND went on to win 5-3. The Sioux had 5 power play goals this weekend and 3 of them came tonight. UND has a lot of weapons and when they can finish like they were this weekend it makes it awfully tough on the opposition.

3rd Period Scoring Summary
2:48 -- Genoway (Finley, Frattin) PPG 4-2 UND
3:00 -- Trupp (Frattin) 5-2 UND
18:37 -- Stewart (Hanson, Davis) PPG 5-3 UND

Game 2: #6 North Dakota at #20 MSU PRE GAME

About 35 minutes to faceoff here in Mankato and it's not as cold out which means there might not be as many late arrivals from MSU fans. The Mavericks lost a tough one last night in a game where they couldn't seem to get anything going on offense. While both teams struggled to find a flow, it was the special teams that ultimately decided the game as all three of the game's goals came on the power play. MSU did a good job of containing Ryan Duncan and T.J. Oshie last night, and they must do the same tonight if they want to win. A split here keeps the Mavericks very much alive in the WCHA standings, but a sweep might be difficult to rebound from. Power plays will likely be the main factor again tonight, and whichever team capitalizes will be on top at the end.

Here are the line-ups for tonight, with starters in italics.

MINNESOTA STATE
Sackrison-Irwin-Berge
Hanson-Kalinski-Mouillierat
Gaulrapp-Harrison-Stewart
Tyree-Harrison-Wiley

Youds-Kilburg
Davis-Friesen
Linder-Boe

Zacharias
Tormey
Lee

NORTH DAKOTA
Duncan-Oshie-Kozek
Watkins-VandeVelde-Martens
Trupp-Zajac-Frattin
Radke-Malone-Davidson

Chorney-Bina
Finley-Genoway
Jones-Marto

Lamoureux
Walski

MSU Senior Matt Tyree is playing in only his third career game as coach Troy Jutting may be looking to add a little size to the line-up considering last night's events. Again, I will be providing thoughts and up-to-date scoring.

#6 North Dakota at #20 MSU IN GAME

In a big series like this, I expected to see MSU come out with a lot more energy and to play very physical. I was suprised to see that North Dakota was the team playing hard and physical. The Mavs need to play with more emotion and intensity in the following periods. Mouillierat hit post on nice 2-on-1 feed from Bruess, but that was it for the Mavericks offensively.

1st Period Scoring Summary
5:06 -- Genoway (Watkins, Finley) PPG 1-0 UND

The second period was a bit better for the Mavericks as they saw a few more scoring chances, but had nothing to show for it. MSU had two goals disallowed, so they have been getting chances, they just need to cash in, legally. It sets us up for a great third period here in frigid Mankato.

2nd Period Scoring Summary
No Scoring

The Mavericks managed to get a power play goal from Mick Berge, but couldn't keep UND off the board on a power play of their own. MSU also could not seem to get much going offensively the entire game. Trevor Bruess and Rylan Kaip will not be available tomorrow night as they were both ejected for fighting.

3rd Period Scoring Summary
5:52 -- Bina (Oshie, Chorney) PPG 2-0 UND

10:29 -- Berge (Youds, Zacharias) PPG 2-1 UND

#6 North Dakota at #20 MSU PRE GAME

It's about 30 minutes until the puck drops at Alltel Center. The Maverick student section is full and looks to be full of energy. Let's hope they can get loud early due to an early goal. Hopefully we will all have something to cheer about tonight as it is that time of the season when teams in the league start separating themselves. This is a big weekend for MSU.

Here are the line-ups for both teams. Starters are in italics:

MINNESOTA STATE
Irwin-Harrison-Berge
Hanson-Bruess-Mouillierat
Galiardi-Kalinski-Stewart
Gaulrapp-Sackrison-Wiley

Linder-Davis
Boe-Kilburg
Youds-Friesen

Zacharias
Tormey
Lee

NORTH DAKOTA
Watkins-VandeVelde-Kaip
Duncan-Oshie-Trupp
Kozek-Zajak-Frattin
Radke-Malone-Martens

Finley-Genoway
Chorney-Bina
Jones-LaPoint

Lamoureux
Walski

The Mavs are going to have to stop the Duncan-Oshie-Trupp line if they are going to be successful. I will be providing scoring updates and thoughts throughout the game.

Holding on... again

The Mavericks clung to their No. 20 ranking this week in the USCHO/CSTV top-20 rankings.

With North Dakota coming to town this weekend, it may also be make-or-break time for MSU to make a run at the NCAA Tournament. Success this weekend will go a long way toward securing a spot. Get swept this weekend, and it might be an uphill battle the rest of the way...

Down a spot...

After being idle this past weekend, Minnesota State dropped a notch in the USCHO/CSTV top 20 rankings. After debuting at No. 19 last week, the Mavericks fell to the final spot in the rankings this week as they prepare for a series at the new No. 19 — Minnesota-Duluth.

The Mavericks took three points from the Bulldogs last month at the Alltel Center, and if they can do the same this weekend, may finally gain some respect from the national voters. I mean, how can MSU be one spot behind a team that: a) just split with Bemidji State (a team MSU swept last month) and b) be behind a team that the Mavs are 1-0-1 against this season. You could also argue that Minnesota State could be ahead of fellow WCHA school No. 17 Wisconsin. MSU has one fewer conference win, but they also have fewer losses, a better overall record and a 1-0-1 head-to-head record against the Badgers this season... but I digress.

In the rankings...

Minnesota State debuted at No. 19 in the USCHO/CSTV Top-20 rankings this week. It is the first time this season the Mavericks have been ranked.

In all, nine WCHA teams found themselves among the top-20 in the nation.

MSU is back in action in 10 days against No. 16 Minnesota-Duluth.