ANCHORAGE ? The nationally-ranked No. 18 Minnesota State Mavericks handed the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves a 3-0 shutout Friday night in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association game at the Sullivan Arena.
Despite the loss, the Seawolves (18 points) remain in eighth place in the WCHA standings following in-state rival Alaska Fairbanks' loss at Michigan Tech. UAF remains behind UAA by two points in the standings at No. 9, as the Seawolves (11-17-3, 8-15-2) cling to the remaining spot that advances to the WCHA First Round. The Alaska school that advances to the First Round won't be decided until March 4-5, when the teams meet in Fairbanks for the final two games of the Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup.
Meanwhile, the Mavericks regained sole possession of the No. 1 position with 35 points, two points ahead of Michigan Tech and Bowling Green.
Tonight's game saw a disparaging gap for shots on goal. After leading 7-3 in the first period, the Mavericks (16-10-7, 14-4-7 WCHA) took a commanding 17-5 lead for shots on target in the second before a 9-7 advantage in the third. Overall, MSU peppered the Green & Gold goal with 33 shots to UAA's 15.
MSU scored early in the opening stanza, taking a 1-0 lead at 1:37 when senior Bryce Gervais capitalized on a breakaway. Gervais beat netminder Olivier Mantha, on just the second shot of the night with assists going to Zeb Knutson and Jaden Schmeisser.
Following a lengthy review of a goal waived off, the Mavericks' Dylan Margonari made it 2-0 at 9:26 of the second. Margonari, with help from Teddy Blueger and Jimmy Mullin, jammed it in for his fourth of the season.
Making it 3-0 for the Mavericks was sophomore C.J. Franklin at 17:32 of the middle frame. Franklin went end-to-end and fired a wrister of the rush from the left circle, unassisted. The teams headed into the locker rooms for second intermission with MSU leading, 3-0.
The final frame was scoreless and saw the Seawolves kill off a 5-minute major penalty called on junior Dylan Hubbs for facemasking. Both teams were scoreless on the man advantage, each going 0-for-3.
Mantha made 30 saves, while Cole Huggins made 15 stops with the win to improve to 8-8-2.
The Seawolves and Mavericks square off tomorrow night at 7:07 p.m. The night also doubles as Senior Night, where Blake Leask, Blake Tatchell, Austin Sevalrud and Chris Williams will be honored before puck drop.
