Mavericks make it a sweep

Janet Hostetter, AP

Minnesota State Mankato’s James Gaulrapp beat Gophers goalie Alex Kangas for a shorthanded goal late in the first period Friday night at Mariucci Arena. The goal gave the Mavericks a 2-0 lead.

After Friday's penalty-filled rout in Mankato, the Gophers played tougher but still took the loss.

By ROMAN AUGUSTOVIZ, Star Tribune

Last update: February 1, 2009 - 12:10 AM

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MSU MANKATO 3, GOPHERS MEN 1

Up next: 7:07 p.m. Friday-Saturday vs. Wisconsin • Mariucci Arena • TV: BTN Friday, FSN Saturday (950-AM both nights)

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Minnesota State Mankato had never swept the Gophers in a series since they began playing in the 1997-98 season.

Two years later the Mavericks joined the WCHA, and this weekend, in their 10th season in the conference, they beat the Gophers back-to-back. The second game Saturday at Mariucci Arena was closer, but goalie Mike Zacharias and two first-period goals carried the Mavericks to a 3-1 victory.

"I don't think there are any have-nots in our league," said Gophers coach Don Lucia, whose team lost to MSU 6-2 on Friday in a penalty-filled tussle in Mankato.

"I thought the kids played very disciplined hockey tonight," Mavericks coach Troy Jutting said. "We came here to win the hockey game. The other stuff wasn't important."

The four points for the two victories enabled the Mavericks (13-13-3, 9-11-2) to move within one point of the Gophers, 21-20, in the WCHA standings. The Gophers are tied for fourth.

No. 5-rated Minnesota (12-7-5, 9-6-3) has played four fewer conference games, though, and has home series coming up with Wisconsin and Alaska-Anchorage.

"I think [the players] will be fine," Lucia said. "In a six-month season, you better have amnesia in a hurry."

The Mavericks, now 5-28-6 all-time against the Gophers, took a 1-0 lead on defenseman Kurt Davis' rebound goal on a power play midway through the opening period. Winger James Gaulrapp made it 2-0 at 17 minutes, 59 seconds on a short-handed goal.

Gaulrapp poked the puck away from Gophers freshman Jake Hansen. Gophers goalie Alex Kangas flopped down before Gaulrapp found the lower right corner on a breakaway.

In the second period, the Gophers lost forwards Nico Sacchetti and Ryan Stoa within two minutes on game misconducts involving checks from behind. Minnesota managed to kill off the penalties, including a 5-on-3 lasting a little more than three minutes.

"We couldn't get going offensively," Lucia said. "We had to kill a boatload of penalties, especially those majors. The guys did a terrific job doing that. I haven't seen too many teams win when they get back-to-back majors."

The Gophers finally beat Zacharias, who made 29 saves, at 5:09 of the third period on Patrick White's goal.

Lucia pulled Kangas with 1:18 to play and Jay Barriball had a late chance before the Mavericks' Zach Harrison scored with 13 seconds left.

"It wasn't the result we wanted," Lucia said, "but I have no issue with how hard our kids played [Saturday]. We had a lot of good looks, and we only gave up the two goals."

Injury update

• Mavericks sophomore defenseman Channing Boe is out because of a broken ankle suffered in Friday night's third-period melee at Mankato's Alltel Center. Gophers junior forward Tony Lucia suffered a concussion in the second period Friday when he was elbowed near the boards and hit his head on the dasher. He missed Saturday night's rematch at Mariucci Arena.

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