Mav hockey winning streak up to 9
With their record currently 25-7, the Mavs look unstoppable after sweeping Ferris State last weekend
Colton Molesky
Staff Writer
The Minnesota State Mavericks played host to the Ferris State Bulldogs, going for their ninth sweep this season in route to moving their winning streak to nine games.
It’s been an inspired run for the Mavericks in the waning weeks of the hockey season, giving their record a bump to the 25-7 range. Another weekend came with a big showing from the Mavericks offense, which outscored the Bulldogs 11-3.
The first game of the two game series was not short of sparks from the beginning, with a 7-1 victory for MSU. The Mavericks came down hard on the Bulldogs in the second period, posting five of the seven goals.
“It was nice to get the goal early and get off to a lead, then I thought they came back with a push that slowed down the pace of the game to their advantage,” said Mavericks head coach Mike Hastings on the offense of the first night to the MSU athletic department. “In the second period we made some better decisions and got behind the defensemen, I also thought our power play was really good and that gave us an opportunity to get a lead and from then on we managed the game really well.”
Of the five penalties gifted to the Mavericks from Ferris State, they capitalized on two of them. One of the five goals in the second period was delivered from the stick of C.J. Suess, as he continued to add to a career year by getting his 18th goal of the season.
After the 7-1 victory (the eighth time that the Mavericks have topped six or more goals) the Mavericks offense started out game two with a 2-0 lead in the first period, not missing a step from the previous night.
A slight lapse from the Mavericks defense gave up two goals in the first nine minutes of the second period. However, MSU buttoned up in the third period, returning to the dominant play that they had sported all weekend. In the final three minutes of the closing period, the first from Brad McClure and the second was Suess’ 20th goal of the season (leads the team and is a career best in a season for Suess).
“I liked our start the first 20 minutes, we did a good job possessing the puck and playing with conviction,” said Hastings after the second win of the weekend. “We got away from that a little bit but then had two captains step up and play really well in the third period.”
In another night the Mavericks were able to force plenty of offensive pressure thanks to Ferris State penalties, with the Bulldogs racking up a punishing nine trips to the box in game two. This helped the Mavs reach 47 shots on goal for the second outing.
The victory not only notched the 25th win for the Mavericks, it also moved the team to 8-2 against Michigan teams this season. It is the best record the Mavericks have had against Michigan based teams since the 2014-2015 season.
Photo: (Mansoor Ahmad/MSU Reporter)
