MANKATO, Minn. - A five-goal first period set the stage for an exciting back-and-forth game during the first 20 minutes of Friday night's Western Collegiate Hockey Association quarterfinals game between Lake Superior State and Minnesota State- Mankato. The Mavericks (19-11-7, 16-5-7 WCHA), the co-champions of the WCHA regular season, scored three goals in the first and held a 3-2 advantage through the first two periods before adding two late goals to secure the 5-2 victory in the series opener.
Sophomore goaltender Gordon Defiel made a number of remarkable saves against a potent Mavericks attack to keep the Lakers (13-21-5, 10-14-5 WCHA) within striking distance, but was eventually tagged with the loss after allowing five goals on 41 shots. Defiel's counterpart and the WCHA Goaltending Champion, Cole Huggins, made 15 saves to earn the victory.
While the teams skated through the first 10 minutes of the game without a goal, the sides exploded for five goals in the final half of the first period. John Jutzi opened the scoring with his fifth goal of the season; a power-play marker scored 35 seconds into the man advantage, to put the Mavericks up 1-0 just over halfway through the first period. Just over two minutes later, Owen Headrick (5-7--12) tied the game with a seeing-eye shot that found its way past Cole Huggins. James Roll (1-7--8) and Austin McKay (1-4--5) added the assists on Headrick's goal.
The goal by Headrick also gives the youngest player in the WCHA the overall league-lead in goals among freshmen defensemen and ties him for fourth among all defensemen in the league.
The game was tied for just 1:25 before Dylan Margonari was left open to score the Mavericks' second-consecutive power-play strike of the game. Under two minutes later, however, Mitch Hults (9-10--19) knotted the game at 2-2. Hults' line mates J.T. Henke (9-12--21) and Anthony Nellis (4-13--17) added the assists on the tying goal.
This time the game remained tied for just 38 seconds until Brad McClure put the Mavs back on top 3-2 with a tipped-shot from the slot that he redirected in midair. McClure's third tally of the season and third point of the night was assisted by Sean Flanagan and Zach Stephan.
The Lakers were unable to find the equalizer in the final 2:24 and the sides went to the first intermission with the Mavericks ahead 3-2. MSU also held a 16-9 advantage in shots after the first 20 minutes.
The second period saw the sides go scoreless, despite the Lakers getting their first three power-play opportunities of the night. The Lakers were unable to score on the three attempts and the Mavericks were held scoreless on their two power-play attempts of the second period.
Through 40 minutes of play, MSU held a 28-13 shots on goal advantage.
Defiel kept the game close while under a persistent attack by the Mavericks in the third period before Bryce Gervais collected a turnover in the Lakers zone and gave MSU a 4-2 lead. Daniel Brickley later added another power-play goal with 3:42 left in the third period with a high shot from the slot that caught Defiel off guard.
LSSU will need a win in Saturday's Game 2 to force a third game in the series and extend their season. Saturday's game is slated for 8:07 p.m. ET.