No. 11 Minnesota State (5-3-2, 3-3-2 WCHA) at Michigan Tech (2-7-1, 1-6-1 WCHA)
7:07 p.m. Friday, 7:07 p.m. Saturday MacInnes Ice Arena - Houghton, Mich.
PREVIEW: After splitting at home with Colorado College last weekend, the Mavericks travel to Houghton, Mich., for a WCHA series with the Huskies. The Mavericks play this weekend in an NHL-size rink, which less than half of the rest of the WCHA plays in.
FORWARDS: Redshirt freshman Mike Louwerse scored his fourth power-play goal of the season Saturday in MSU's 4-3 loss to the Tigers. Louwerse's four PPGs rank him second in the WCHA. The line of James Gaulrapp-Zach Harrison-Jerad Stewart did a good job of stopping CC's top line last weekend and was plus-1 themselves with a handfull of shots on goal. That trio, along with the line of Geoff Irwin-Trevor Bruess-Mick Berge will stay together this weekend. Junior forward Kael Mouillierat will be out this weekend after injuring his arm in Friday's game after getting checked from behind. Jason Wiley missed Friday's game but played Saturday and will be on the ice again this weekend.
DEFENSE: The Mavericks used seven different defensemen last weekend with different pairings both nights. This weekend's pairings will most likely match the same ones as Saturday's game. Cameron Cooper played in Friday's game last weekend but sat out Saturday. He will see action in one of the games again this weekend. Kurt Davis extended his scoring streak to 10 games with an assist Friday and Saturday.
IN NET: Mike Zacharias played well again last weekend and for the first time all season let in at least one goal he normally stops Saturday. The senior made 25 saves Friday and 19 Saturday, moving his goals against average to 2.66. Zacharias will start Friday.
SCOUTING THE HUSKIES: The Huskies took one point from Minnesota last weekend in Minneapolis. Rob Nolan's been decent in net, but scoring goals has been the problem.
Josh Berhow is the Reporter sports editor
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