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Preview: UAH at Minnesota State

Where: Verizon Center, Mankato, Minn.
When: Friday, 7:07 p.m.; Saturday, 7:07 p.m.
Watch: FloHockey.tv (subscription required)

Charger update: UAH (6-21-1 overall, 6-13-1-1 WCHA) had a rough series last week at home against Alaska, getting swept by the Nanooks.

On Friday, the Chargers were given plenty of power play opportunities, but couldn’t do anything with them in a 3-1 loss. On Saturday, UAH paid dearly for not staying out of the box, allowing four power play goals in 10 Alaska chances in a 5-2 defeat.

Hans Gorowsky scored his team-leading eighth goal of the season on Saturday. Bauer Neudecker and Christian Rajic scored the other goals in the weekend.

Mark Sinclair started both games in net, making 26 saves on Friday and 32 on Saturday. He now has a 2.93 goals against average and .914 save percentage on the season.

UAH is now firmly in eighth place, the last of the WCHA playoff positions. With 20 points, the Chargers are six behind Alaska and seven ahead of Ferris State.

About the Mavericks: Minnesota State (21-6-1 overall, 16-4-0-0 WCHA) stands atop the WCHA with 48 points, eight ahead of second-place Bowling Green. The sixth-ranked Mavericks, who lead the nation in wins, have won seven of eight and swept third place Northern Michigan last week.

Minnesota State has the highest-scoring offense in the league and fifth-highest in Division I at 3.68 goals per game. The Mavs are lethal on the power play, scoring on 21.7 percent of their opportunities.

Two German juniors pace the Mavericks. Marc Michaelis has 29 points (13 goals-16 assists) and Parker Tuomie has 27 (10-17). Another German, Julian Napravnik, is in the running for WCHA’s top freshman with 15 points (5-10).

The Mavericks have also been stout on defense, tops in league play at 1.75 goals allowed per game. Freshman goaltender Dryden McKay has 21 starts this season, posting a 2.04 goals against with a .919 save percentage and two shutouts.

Minnesota State 2018-19 statistics

Friday, February 1
UAH at #6 Minnesota State, 7:07 p.m.
#13 Bowling Green at Northern Michigan, 6:07 p.m.
#20 Lake Superior State at Ferris State, 6:07 p.m.

Saturday, February 2
UAH at #6 Minnesota State, 7:07 p.m.
#13 Bowling Green at Northern Michigan, 6:07 p.m.
#20 Lake Superior State at Ferris State, 6:07 p.m.