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.