BIG RAPIDS, MICH. — Playing on the road, after a week off, in the CCHA opener, Minnesota State men’s hockey coach Luke Strand was a bit concerned about how his team would start Friday’s game.
Turns out, there was was need to be worried.
“You always worry about rest vs. rust,” Strand said. “I thought the boys responded really well. I’m happy with the way we started the game.”
The Mavericks scored three goals in the first 13 minutes and rolled past Ferris State 6-2 n the CCHA opener Friday.
Brian Carrabes opened the scoring at 4:19 of the first period, assisted by Sam Morton.
Morton added a power-play goal at 07:31, assisted by Evan Murr and Lucas Sowder, and Tyler Haskins made it 3-0 at 12:59, with an assist from Jordan Steinmetz.
Ferris State cut the deficit to 3-1 before the end of the first period, but the Mavericks continued to pour it on in the second period.
Carrabes scored again at 1:12 of the second period, assisted by Sowder and Mason Wheeler, and Campbell Cichosz added a goal two minutes later, with Sowder and Morton getting assists.
Kaden Bohlsen added a power-play goal in the final minute as the Mavericks went ahead 6-1. Sowder and Carrabes had assists.
“Our power play did a nice job, and that Morton line with Carrabes and Sowder was really good,” Strand said. “That really bled over into the rest of the team.”
Ferris State scored the only goal of the third period.
The Mavericks had 31 shots on goal, while Alex Tracy finished with 29 saves.
The Mavericks (3-3-1, 1-0-0 in CCHA) finish the series with Ferris State on Saturday, starting at 6:07 p.m.
Follow Chad Courrier on Twitter @ChadCourrier.