MARQUETTE, Mich. - After a weekend sweep of Bowling Green, the Wildcats jumped into fifth place in the CCHA standings to end the season, drawing a matchup against the Minnesota State Mavericks in the opening round of the CCHA Playoffs.

In a heavyweight match-up, the 'Cats and Mavericks boast top players in the CCHA with Andre Ghantous (8-23--31) and Sam Morton (22-9--31). Ghantous leads the CCHA in assists, Morton leads the CCHA in goals, and both are tied for second in points heading into the weekend.

Grant Potulny Weekly Press Conference - 3/5/24

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Friday, March 1 - at Minnesota State at 8:07 PM ET
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Saturday, March 2 - at Minnesota State at 7:07 PM ET
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Sunday, March 3 - at Minnesota State at 6:07 PM ET (if necessary)
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Looking at the Wildcats
Since the trip to Mankato at the end of January the 'Cats are 4-1-3, including a 3-0-1 mark the previous four. 

In that eight-game frame, the 'Cats special teams units are firing on all cylinders, scoring nine PPGs and clicking at a 33.3% success rate, giving the 'Cats the fourth-best PP% and sixth-most PPGs in the nation in that span (note: every team who has scored more PPGs than NMU has played in one or more games and have had anywhere from four to 24 more power play opportunities than the Wildcats). 

A big proponent of the recent success has been the goaltending of Beni Halasz, who has guided the 'Cats to a team 1.9 GAA and .923 SV%, good for fourth and ninth overall in the past eight games. Individually, of goalies who have played eight or more games since February, Halasz is fourth in GAA (1.83), goals allowed (15), and .015% off of the leader in SV%, holding a .923 SV% since then. Halasz was just named CCHA Goaltender of the Week for the third time this season after his exceptional weekend against the Falcons (2 wins, 0.50 GAA, .979 SV%, one SO). 

The 'Cats are led by Hobey Baker nominee Andre Ghantous (8-23--31), who leads the CCHA in assists, second in points, and has eight points in his last seven games (1-7--8). A now converted forward in the absence of Artem Shlaine, blueliner Josh Zinger is fourth among CCHA defensemen in points (3-17--20) and second on the Wildcats in assists. 

Cat Nips

• Andre Ghantous has been nominated for the 2024  Hobey Baker Award. You can vote for Ghantous here
• Ghantous leads all active NCAA skaters in career points (52-103--155) in 168 games played. Ghantous currently sits 14th in career points, T34 in career goals, T11 in career assists, and second in career games played in NMU program history
• Ghantous leads the 'Cats in career points against the Mavericks with 11 points in 19 games (6-5--11)
• Aiden Gallacher leads the CCHA in blocks with 76, good for fourth nationally
• The Wildcats lead the CCHA in PPGs with 28 and are second in PP% at 23.3%
• The 'Cats are one of the best faceoff teams in the CCHA, clicking at 51.9%, good for second in the conference

Looking at the Mavericks
The Mavericks are on a little bit of a skid as of late, going 1-3-0 in their last four and 3-5-0 since they played NMU in January.

In their 3-5-0 stretch since February 1, the Mavericks have a -9 goal differential, (only behind St. Thomas and Ferris State with -11 for worst in the CCHA in that frame), have scored the second-fewest goals, have allowed the third most goals, and are worst in the league with 3.4 GA/G average, third worst with a 2.3 G/G average, and the leagues worst SV% (.871). On the flip side, in that same stretch of eight games, the Mavericks lead the CCHA in FO% (53.1%), have scored six goals for a 23.1% PP%, and hold the league-best 87.0% PK% (20/23).

The Mavericks are led by Sam Morton (22-9--31), who leads the CCHA in goals and is fifth in the nation in that category. His nine PPGs also leads the CCHA and is seventh nationally. The Mavericks also lay claim to one of the best blueliners in the league, as freshman Evan Murr (6-19--25) leads the CCHA in points and assists from a defenseman.

Minnesota State has only been average at home this season, going 8-7-1 at the Mayo Clinic Ice Arena. Despite being only around .500 at home, the Mavericks are the second-highest scoring team at home with their 52 goals and 3.3 G/G average.

Goaltending has been a question mark for the Mavericks of late, with both Keenan Rancier and Alex Tracy starting and being pulled at least once in the last four games. Tracy has played in double the games as Rancier, with both goalies putting up similar numbers on the season (Tracy - 2.56 GAA, .906 SV%: Rancier - 2.44 GAA, .910 SV%).

Last Time vs the Mavericks
The 'Cats skated away with a 2-2 tie before winning 2-1 in a shootout on Friday before dropping a 0-4 decision on Saturday.

On Friday, Matvei Kabanov scored the go-ahead goal late in the second period and then finished off the game with a nifty move in the third round of the shootout. Grant Slukynsky opened the shootout scoring in the second round before Kabanov sealed it.  The 'Cats scored their two goals in the final two minutes of the second period, opened by Jack Perbix scoring his first goal of the season. Connor Eddy, Aiden Gallacher, and Artem Shlaine all picked up assists on the evening, and Beni Halasz made 22 saves (.917 SV%).