Minnesota State 5, Bowling Green 2

Four Minnesota State juniors scored goals as the Mavericks edged Bowling Green 5-2 Saturday in a nonconference matchup in Bowling Green, Ohio. Jason Wiley, Jerad Stewart, Trevor Bruess and Kurt Davis all scored goals and Geoff Irwin added an empty-netter. Mick Berge had two assists and Mike Zacharias made 25 saves in net. Davis extended his scoring streak to 14 games, tied for the longest in MSU's DI era.

Notes: With October and November now in the books, the Mavericks wrapped up the first two months of the season with eight wins after getting nine total wins in the last three seasons combined during those months. Some of the success has to do with a couple underclassmen, Read About It Here, though it's a few days old the point's still the same....MSU still hasn't lost on the road (4-0-3) and plays in a WCHA home-and-home series this weekend vs. St. Cloud State. Friday's game will be in Mankato....Keep voting on the polls, of the 27 who voted on the last one, only four said MSU would have a three-point weekend (technically not a three-point weekend because the games were nonconference, but it's just an easier way to say a win and a tie...17 people thought MSU would sweep). I'll think of something else to vote for and put it up in a day or so, along with some updates later in the week.

Mavericks 2, Bowling Green 2

Mick Berge scored his third goal of the season on a power play at 10:25 of the first and Geoff Irwin gave the Mavericks a 2-0 lead at 6:58 of the second. Kai Kantola then scored two second-period goals, one on a power play, to tie the game. Mike Zacharias looked like he had a busy night in net, making 38 saves.

Kurt Davis added two assists in the game and Mike Louwerse and Jason Wiley both had one. Davis pushed his scoring streak to 13 games and Louwerse pushed his to eight.
The teams finish the series tonight.

Berge on trip

A little late, but Mick Berge was cleared Wednesday night to make the trip to Bowling Green. It's a pretty good guess he'll be in the lineup, too. Update courtesy of Shane Frederick.

Nonconference weekend

The WCHA will be playing in nonconference games this weekend, with Minnesota-Duluth hosting St. Cloud State Saturday as the only conference matchup. I could preview each series like I planned, but to tell you the truth, with all the different nonconference series going on, that's a lot of previewing on teams I really don't know a lot about (i.e. Cornell, Bowling Green, Colgate). Here are the matchups for this weekend. I'll try and update throughout the weekend.

Weekend matchups
Minnesota State at Bowling Green
Michigan Tech at Bemidji State
Cornell at North Dakota
St. Cloud State at Minnesota Duluth (Sat.)
Denver vs. Colgate Fri., vs. Air Force Sat.
Colorado College at Air Force Fri., vs. Colgate Sat.
Minnesota vs. Michigan Fri., Michigan State Sat.
Wisconsin vs. Michigan State Fri., vs. Michigan Sat.

Wednesday injury update

As expected Kael Mouillierat and Andy Sackrison won't make the trip to Bowling Green this weekend. Neither practiced Wednesday. Mick Berge participated in the second half of practice today, the noncontact portion. Jutting said it's not up to him if Berge goes, but up to the doctors. Mouillierat and Sackrison will be replaced with a couple freshmen (Justin Jokinen, Joe Schiller, Adam Mueller).

The Mavericks leave Thursday morning for the nonconference trip, which I will not be at. Check back Friday afternoon for a weekend preview.

Injury trouble

MSU senior forward Mick Berge and sophomore forward Andy Sackrison both left in the first period last weekend with an injury. Berge returned to start the third period and was in the lineup Saturday. Sackrison, however, didn't return and didn't dress Saturday.

Even worse news is that neither practiced Monday and Jutting said Sackrison has already been ruled out for this weekend's nonconference matchup against Bowling Green. With fellow forward Kael Mouillierat already out this weekend with an arm injury, that leaves the Mavericks with at least two of their top forwards out for the series. It could be three if Berge can't go.

MSU is off Tuesday but there will be at least some sort of update Wednesday.

Back Again

First off, I'm sorry. I've been very busy lately and haven't had as much time as I wanted to contribute to this blog. But now, we are back with I promise, in-game updates, weekend previews and predictions, recaps and other bits of information. I might add an injury update within the next few days but if I don't I will have one with the weekend preview for next week. See you then.