MANKATO, Minn. — Riding an 11-game winning streak, top-ranked Minnesota State found itself trailing St. Thomas, which has just three wins on the season, after two periods to open their CCHA playoff series.
Sam Morton helped stall any upset thoughts with an early third period goal and Lucas Sowder provided the game-winner later in the period as the Mavericks snatched the first game of the best-of-three quarterfinal series 3-2 on Friday night, March 4 at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center.
Morton scored on the power play just 49 seconds into the third period when St. Thomas' Tim Piechowski was in the box for tripping. The Tommies took a 2-1 lead into the final frame on a Luke Manning power play goal scored at 18:09 of the second period.
The Mavericks outshot the Tommies 42-13. Dryden McKay picked up the win with 11 saves. Peter Thome stopped 39 shots before he was pulled for an extra attacker.
The teams play again at 6:07 p.m. Saturday with a 5:07 p.m. Sunday game if necessary.
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Note: This article was updated 10:17 p.m. to correct the final score.
