MANKATO, Minn. — The Northern Michigan hockey team snapped No. 18 Minnesota State's nine-game unbeaten streak with a 3-1 victory Friday night at the Verizon Wireless Center.

Atte Tolvanen made 41 saves, and Dominik Shine netted his third game-winning goal in seven games, to earn the Wildcats their first road victory over the Mavericks in program history.

The first period was an even affair, with each team notching a goal and sending seven shots on net. A little over three minutes into the contest, the Mavericks tested Tolvanen with their first shot. At the side of the net, Teddy Blueger corralled the puck and sent a no-look pass to an open Bryce Gervais in the slot. Tolvanen managed to get across the crease fast enough to deny Gervais's shot with the toe of his skate. 

The Wildcats opened the scoring for the first time in four games on Darren Nowick's eighth goal of the year. At 8:33, Shine charged up the ice, slipped past his defender and then threaded a behind-the-back drop pass to a trailing Nowick for the score. 

But Minnesota State netted the equalizer while shorthanded when Brett Knowles picked off a Wildcat pass at the blue line and then beat Tolvanen blocker side at 11:34.

Despite being outshot by a 17-5 margin in the second, Northern Michigan recaptured the lead. In the first minute, Tolvanen came up with two pad saves after losing his stick to maintain the 1-1 deadlock.

Shine's go-ahead goal, which extended his goal streak to four games, came at 13:56 after an extended stretch spent on special teams. In transition, Shine took a cross-ice feed from Robbie Payne at the Maverick blue line, skated in on net and rifled a shot that found the space between Jason Pawloski's glove and the crossbar.

Tolvanen made 18 of his 41 saves in the third period, with a highlight being when he turned aside back-to-back tries by Maverick leading goal scorer Gervais with just under eight minutes remaining.

In the final minute of play, Tolvanen denied three-straight shots with Pawloski pulled for the extra skater. On the last of those shots, the rebound bounced out to Shine, who sprung Nowick for the empty net goal.

With the win, Northern Michigan improves to 8-7-6 (6-5-4 WCHA). The Wildcats close out their series with Minnesota State tomorrow night at 8:07 p.m.

NOTES: Minnesota State leads the all-time series, 6-2-3 ... Northern Michigan was 0-4-0 against the Mavericks at the Verizon Wireless Center entering the game ... Tolvanen picked up his first career point with an assist on Nowick's empty net goal ... Tolvanen last made at least 40 saves Dec. 4 at Alabama-Huntsville; he has reached the 40-save plateau five times this season ... Against Minnesota State this season, Tolvanen has stopped 104 of 108 shots ... Shine extended his point streak to five games; he has eight points (4g-4a) over that span ... Since December, Shine has had a hand in 11 of 17 Wildcat goals with seven goals and four helpers ... Nowick now leads the Wildcats with nine goals ... With three points (2g-1a), Nowick matched his career high, last accomplished Nov. 29, 2014 at Alaska-Fairbanks; his multi-goal effort was his second of the season ... Shine (1g-2a) also matched his career high of three points, last achieved with a hat trick Dec. 4 at Alabama-Huntsville ... With tonight's result, the Wildcats won back-to-back games for the first time this season ... Northern Michigan has allowed four shorthanded goals, all in WCHA play.