Mavericks Milked

9 goals on the weekend, and just one allowed. A pretty solid start to WCHA play for the Michigan Tech Huskies.

Of course, Mankato isn't really expected to run away with the league title this season, or even to garner home ice. But still, four points in the league is four points in the league, and a big confidence booster for this team going into this weekend's series with #1 North Dakota.

As for the games, it really all boils down to goaltending and team experience. Overall, Tech played like a veteran team who had already weathered three games, while Mankato definitely looked like a young team that was playing their first games of the season. The Mavs could not finish on many of their opportunities, in part due to the solid goaltending of Teslak and Nolan, and also because many of their shots were simply off target - wide or high.

Some positives for the Huskies to take away from the weekend:

1. The power play. While it still looks weak at times, it is definitely showing improvement, with our ability to capitalize on both of the 5x3s Mankato handed to us, and even a 5x4.

2. The goaltending. Much better performances from both Teslak and Nolan this weekend. Other than a mistake that cost Robbie the shutout on Saturday, these are the goaltenders I know from last season, and they should present a challenge for the Sioux.

3. Shot blocking. I saw several attempted shots get blocked, which is a good sign for the penalty kill. However, that being said...

Some things that need to be worked on...

1. The penalty kill. We got the job done, but I think luck played a role. A lot of times, Mankato would shoot and the puck would be lost in a scrum in the front of the net, then a Tech player would fortunately come away with it and ice it. On a team with a strong penalty kill, pucks should rarely spend that much time hanging out in or in front of the crease, waiting to be buried. The shot is blocked before the puck ever gets there, and if it does get there, a defender is quick to fire it out of the way.

2. Penalties. The best way to kill a penalty is to avoid it in the first place. 15 penalties on the weekend is, in my opinion, too much time spent in the sin bin.

So for now, Tech fans get to be happy with a sweep to start the season, but this is just the beginning of the year and there's still tons of hockey left to be played, so we can't get too excited yet.

Perhaps I'll have a little more on the series with the Sioux later this week.