MANKATO, Minn. — For years, hockey coaches everywhere have continued to emphasize the importance of the final minutes of a period. If any of those coaches needed any vindication, look no further than Friday’s game between Minnesota State and Michigan Tech.
With 1:34 left in the first period, Maverick freshman forward Jared Spooner got his team on the board with a light shot from the faceoff dot. Moments later, Minnesota State drew a penalty that would eventually lead to the Mavericks’ second goal.
In the end, those chances were the only ones Minnesota State converted on and proved to be the difference as the Mavericks defeated the Huskies 2-1 in the first game of a best-of-three WCHA semifinal at Verizon Center in Mankato, Minnesota, on Friday.
Throughout the first period, the Mavericks were peppering Michigan Tech senior netminder Devin Kero with tough shots. But Spooner’s shot that got past Kero wasn’t one of Minnesota State’s hardest shots. But it proved to be an important one.
“I think he was just trying to get pucks on net,” said Mavericks head coach Mike Hastings. “It was a good decision. It got the crowd into the game and gave us a chance to play with the lead.”
Soon after Spooner’s goal came a penalty to Huskies senior center Dylan Steman. And though it was the Mavericks’ lone power play chance of the evening, the team that leads the nation in power play goals with 49 this season cashed in thanks to freshman center Jake Jaremko.
“I thought scoring on that power play to give us a two-goal lead was incredibly big,” Hastings said. “I don’t think we’ve played in a game all year where there’s only been two penalties. To make that count and find a way to extend a lead is really important.”
Jaremko’s goal came after he tipped in a long shot from his skate. Like the first goal, it wasn’t the best chance for Minnesota State. But for the Mavericks, getting shots to the net is key at this time of year.
“(Getting pucks to the net) is everything right now,” Jaremko said. “It’s huge. Every game is going to be tight. Whoever gets the puck to the net more is going to have a good chance to win.”
With Minnesota State holding a two-goal lead, the game started to slow down. Though it was mostly the doing of Michigan Tech, the Mavericks thrived and held the Huskies to just three shots in the second.
“It was a little bit of a sandwich game,” Hastings said. “A lot of pace in the first, the third period had a lot of pace. In between, there was a lot of defending going on.”
In the third period, however, the Huskies started to find their way. Michigan Tech more than doubled its shot total with 10 shots on goal in the final 20 minutes and got on the board when senior center Joel L’Esperance corralled a loose rebound nearly midway through the third.
The Huskies couldn’t find any more offense beyond that one goal and struggled to break Minnesota State senior goaltender Connor LaCouvee. The nation’s leader in wins and a Mike Richter award semifinalist made 18 saves in the win.
“I thought at the end of the night, Connor LaCouvee played really well,” Hastings said. “He made a couple of saves that he shouldn’t have.”
Friday’s win means the Mavericks are one win away from the WCHA final. The two teams will meet again Saturday and for a third time Sunday if Michigan Tech wins the second game of this series.
The Huskies have proved themselves to be a team that can win on the road after sweeping Bemidji State on the road last weekend in the first round of the tournament. Expect Michigan Tech to try and channel some of that road magic on Saturday as the Huskies look to even the series and keep their series alive.
“They’re gonna come hard,” Hastings said. “I think the game is going to be a real intense battle. You expect nothing but that.”
