Seventh-ranked Minnesota State wore down the Chargers on Friday, winning the opener of the WCHA series 5-1 in Mankato.
UAH (6-11-2 overall, 5-6-2 WCHA) was outshot 41-15 as the Chargers saw its winless streak against MSU go to 23 games. The Chargers are 0-19-4 against the Mavericks since their last victory in 2002.
The Mavericks (12-5-0 overall, 10-3-0 WCHA) moved into first place in the WCHA standings, two points over idle Bowling Green.
The Chargers, who sit in sixth place, escaped the first period unscathed, although giving the powerful Mavericks three power plays did not make it easy.
Fortunately, UAH goaltender Jordan Uhelski (36 saves) was on his game early, stealing a goal from Reggie Lutz on a diving stop.
Uhelski also needed saves on a quick shot by MSU leading scorer Zeb Knutson and a glove stop on Brad McClure.
UAH’s best chances to score came shorthanded. Hans Gorowski had a breakaway denied by MSU goaltender Jason Pawloski, and Madison Dunn’s slapper from the left circle hit the post.
Minnesota State dominated the second period.
The Mavericks scored the first goal five minutes into the second period. Ian Scheid’s cross-ice pass found Josh French, and Uhelski was well out of position. French capitalized on the wide open net.
MSU sensed it was about to take over the game, and started making it tougher on Uhelski by firing away.
At 12:43, captain C.J. Seuss made it 2-0 MSU as he fired in a rebound from a Parker Tuomie shot.
With six minutes to go, Richard Buri checked Jake Jaremko from behind. Jaremko was not plowed into the boards, so it was surprising that Buri got a five minute major and a game misconduct.
Seuss then scored during the major power play for a 3-0 Maverick lead. Uhelski had no chance as Seuss was alone on the doorstep.
With their energy and power play time, the Mavericks outshot the Chargers 22-3 in the second period.
Five minutes into the third, UAH got on the board when Tyler Poulsen, all alone in front of the Minnesota State net, redirected a Brandon Parker pass from the boards past Pawloski to cut the MSU lead to 3-1.
Whatever glimmer of hope the Chargers had to get back into the game was quickly squashed.
Fifty seconds later, Nicolas Rivera swings around the UAH net for a wrap-around, deflecting the puck off Kurt Gosselin’s stick for a goal.
One minute after that, Walker Duehr’s wrister from the left side beat Uhelski high and on his glove side, and just like that Minnesota State led 5-1.
It’s the second straight game the Chargers had fewer than 20 shots on goal while allowing more than 40. Bowling Green outshot UAH 42-12 last Saturday.
Andrew Dodson was back in the UAH lineup on Friday after missing five weeks from an injury.