2023-11-29 23:20:59
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Game Notes
MANKATO, Minn. – On their second three-game losing skid of the season, Minnesota State will try to right the ship this weekend when they travel to face the Lake Superior State Lakers at Taffy Abel Arena. The Mavericks are coming off a pair of 3-2 losses to Michigan Tech in Mankato, the first of which ended in overtime with six seconds remaining.
Despite recent losses and notable lineup absences, the Mavericks have plenty to be optimistic about.
Fifth year senior and team captain Sam Morton leads the team with 10 goals, five assists and 15 points through 12 games, good for second in the CCHA and freshman defenseman Evan Murr has impressed with three goals (including a game winner in overtime at Ferris State), seven assists and 10 points.
The Mavericks also feature a goalie duo of Alex Tracy and Keenan Rancier, each of whom have proved capable of giving the team a chance to win.
Both games this weekend can be heard on AM 1230 KTOE with the voice of the Mavericks, Mike Sullivan. Fans can also stream games on FloHockey.tv.
The Matchup
Minnesota State and Lake Superior State last met in the CCHA quarterfinals March 3-4 in Mankato. The Mavericks swept the series with 6-1 and 2-1 victories.
The game-winning goal in the latter came from (now graduated) Ryan Sandelin and Keenan Rancier stopped 16 of 17 shots.
MSU also swept the regular season series 2-0. On January 20, the Mavericks won 3-2. The following night it was MSU by a score of 3-1.
Minnesota State leads the all-time series between the teams 30-4-1, including wins in each of their previous five matchups and nine of the last ten. The first game between the Mavericks and Lakers was in 2013-14 with MSU on top 5-0.
Scouting the Lakers
Lake Superior State finished 9-25-2 overall last season (8-17-1 CCHA) and fell to the Mavericks in the CCHA quarterfinals. The last time the Lakers won a playoff series was in 2020-21 on a run to the WCHA Championship.
Head Coach Damon Whitten has been at the helm since 2014. In his 8-plus seasons, Whitten holds a 133-83-30 record with one conference championship and a win in the 2018 Great Lakes Invitational.
Senior Jared Wescott leads the CCHA in points (22) and goals (12) through 14 games. Wescott is averaging .86 goals per game and is also sixth in the league in assists (10).
Wescott was named CCHA Forward of the Month for the second straight month on Wednesday. In addition to scoring, Wescott won 67 percent of faceoffs and held a plus-2 rating.
The Lakers are 4-2 at home and 4-4 in the month of November.
LSSU leads the CCHA in goals per game (3.43) but surrenders the fourth most goals against (3.21).
With 48 goals on 389 shots (0.12) the Lakers are the most efficient team as well.
Lake Superior State holds the lowest team faceoff percentage in the CCHA (.452) while the Mavericks sit sixth (.487).
LSSU was projected to finish last in the league in the CCHA Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
Murr Continues to Impress
Minnesota State freshman defenseman Evan Murr (Stillwater, Minn.) was named CCHA Rookie of the Week on November 13 after he scored the game-winning goal in overtime against Ferris State with 6.3 seconds remaining.
Murr continued to make an impact in the Bemidji State series, with an empty-net goal and an assist last Friday night, followed by a single assist last Saturday. Murr is 21st in the CCHA in points (10), first among MSU defensemen.
Morton’s Minutes
Sam Morton saw his seven game point streak come to an end Saturday after the senior recorded a league best 12 points over the span but was left off the scoresheet in the series conclusion against Michigan Tech.
With the absence of Lucas Sowder on the top line, Morton centered Zach Krajnik and Brian Carrabes, both of whom returned to the lineup last weekend after injury.
Sophomore Luc Wilson also garnered top line minutes Friday night due to Carrabes’ being out.
Dynamic Duo
Alex Tracy continued as the starter in goal against Bemidji State but the Mavericks split up starting goaltending duties against the Huskies.
Keenan Rancier saw the blue paint for just the second time this season Friday night and impressed with 34 saves on 37 shots. Saturday, Tracy managed 25 of 28 shots on goal in the loss.
He ranks sixth in the CCHA with a 2.90 goals against average and seventh in save percentage (.900).
MSU Team Summary
Goals for: 3.25 (2nd)
Goals against: 3.00 (2nd)
Shots on goal: 28.92 (5th)
Power Play Percentage: .159 (6th)
Penalties per Game: 3.67 (7th)
Penalty Kill Percentage: .780 (3rd)
Faceoff Win Percentage: .487 (6th)
Blocked Shots per Game: 11.83 (4th)
Special Teams Report
Early season power play woes abated against Bemidji State, but the Maverick power play is still sixth best in the conference.
MSU went 0-2 with the extra man Friday night and 0-1 Saturday night, though they did well to stay out of the penalty box, skating shorthanded five times against the Huskies.
CCHA Matchups Friday:
St. Thomas at Ferris State 7:07 p.m. ET
Minnesota State at Lake Superior St. 7:07 p.m. ET
Bowling Green at Michigan Tech 7:07 p.m. ET
Augustana at Northern Michigan 7:07 p.m. ET
CCHA Matchups Saturday:
St. Thomas at Ferris State 6:07 p.m. ET
Minnesota State at Lake Superior St. 6:07 p.m. ET
Bowling Green at Michigan Tech 6:07 p.m. ET
Augustana at Northern Michigan 6:07 p.m. ET
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