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Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
MSU Mankato
Players Mentioned
Tigers Close out 2016 Hosting No. 19 Minnesota State
December 14, 2016 | Men's Ice Hockey
| Games 14 & 15: No. 19 Minnesota State Mankato vs. Princeton | |
| Game Times | Friday, Dec. 16 at 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. l Hobey Baker Rink l Tickets |
| Game Coverage | Live Video l Live Stats |
| Series Info | Tied 2-2 |
| Princeton | Roster l Schedule l Stats l |
| Minnesota State | Roster l Schedule l Stats l @MavHockey l 10-6-2 | Game Notes |
EYE ON THE TIGERS
Princeton has won six of its last seven games, including four wins over top-10 teams after starting the season 0-6-1. Most recently the Tigers posted a 4-3 win over UMass, after trailing 3-1 in the third period and putting 56 shots on goal. Sophomore Max Véronneau sits atop the scoring column with 19 points on six goals and 13 assists. Fourteen of those points have come in the last five games, as he has led the nation in scoring the last two weeks. Linemate Ryan Kuffner is right behind him with 13 point son a team-best seven goals and six assists. Junior Eric Robinson also has seven goals while chipping in three assists. Junior David Hallisey adds 13 points, while freshman Jackson Cressey has 12. Sophomore Alex Riche, the center of the Véronneau-Kuffner line has 10 points on five goals and five assists. Sophomore Josh Teves has nine assists to pace the defenders. Senior Colton Phinney has started in all but one game for the Tigers. He has an .890 save percentage and a 3.55 goals against average. Junior Ben Halford earned a win at No. 10 Bemidji and has a .965 save percentage and a 1.48 GAA as the backup goaltender.
SCOUTING THE MAVERICKS
Minnesota State is 10-6-2 on the season and ranked No. 16 in the latest USCHO poll and receiving votes in the USA Today poll. The squad started off hot winning its first five and six of its first seven. Since then the Mavericks have not swept an opponent and are 4-4-2 since November. MSU ranks in the top 10 in scoring defense, limiting teams to just 2.28 goals per game - while scoring 3.17 gpg. Freshman Marc Michaelis is the team's leading scorer with 22 point son nine goals and 13 assists. Junior Brad McClure has eight goals and eight assists while C.J. Franklin (WPG) has six goals and nine assists. Daniel Brickley leads the blue liners in points with 15. Senior Michael Huntebrinker, freshman Ian Scheid and junior Zeb Knutson are also in double figures. Senior Cole Huggins has started in 11 of 18 games in goal and has a .906 save percentage and a 2.15 GAA with a 7-3 record. Sophomore Jason Pawlowski is 3-3-2 with a .918 save percentage and a 2.18 GAA.
THE PRINCETON/MINNESOTA STATE SERIES
The series between Princeton and Minnesota State is tied at 2-2, with Princeton winning both games played at Hobey Baker Rink in 2006 and 2008. Minnesota State won games in Mankato in 2007 and 2014. The last time the teams met was on Dec. 12, 2014 when the Mavericks were ranked No. 2 in the nation and won 5-0 in the Game 1 before cancelling Game 2.
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