After splitting their series against Bemidji State, fourth ranked Minnesota State (16-3-1 overall, 11-1-0 WCHA) hosts #19 Michigan Tech (17-8- 1, 7-5-0 WCHA) to close out the regular season. Puck drop is slated for Friday at 7:07 p.m. CST and Saturday at 6:07 p.m. CST.

Minnesota State has performed well recently against Michigan Tech. In their last 12 meetings, they are 8-3-1. Dating back to the 1996-97 season, Minnesota State owns a 44-24-10 record against Michigan Tech.

Minnesota State has already clinched their fourth straight MacNaughton Cup by finishing first overall in the regular season. With first place accomplished, Minnesota State is not looking for points out of these next two games this weekend. 

“The opportunity to look at ourselves in the mirror this last weekend against Bemidji State, we learned a little bit,” head coach Mike Hastings said. “We have to get back on our horse and utilize our depth scoring, our special teams have to get better. One thing we got exposed is our power play, and our penalty kill got exposed. It allowed us to take inventory and hopefully we will be able to show better against a very impressive Michigan tech team.” 

This season for Michigan State has gone extremely well for individual players, and the team as a whole. Goalie Dryden McKay was recently named a Hobey Baker finalist, and Minnesota State’s team chemistry is higher than ever. 

“The season has been going well for the team, we have been hitting our stride and things seem to be clicking,” senior forward Walker Duehr said. “For me personally, I am just trying to do whatever I can to help the team be successful.” 

Minnesota State is at home for the next three weeks. Hastings said his team sees this as a luxury due to coronavirus-induced scheduling quirks, and Hastings is looking forward to his players taking advantage of this situation.  

“The guys get to sleep in their own beds, and so do the coaches, really just familiarity to make sure we take advantage of that.” Hastings said. “The building we play in has been kind to us over the last seven, eight years and we want to take advantage of that and defend our home ice.”

Defending their home ice is something that Minnesota State will look to do this weekend. As number one seed, they also will start the playoffs in their own barn. 

“That’s why you play for a regular season championship other than the trophy and recognition, it’s most about being able to play in your own building,” Hastings said. “Because of the COVID year and the cards it has dealt us, we have been on the road almost twice as much as we have been at home.”

The WCHA changed their postseason semifinal tournament to a single game elimination instead of the standard best of three. This new format could potentially benefit the lower-seeded teams in the league, yet Hastings hasn’t fully made up his mind about it. 

“I haven’t heard a lot of negatives to it,” Hastings said. “Because of the pandemic, because we are trying to protect the top teams that advance to the final four, I am hoping it is a positive step. It will be an opportunity for us to learn.”

John Smark