MANKATO — Sam Morton knew a replacement would be waiting.
He broke his stick on a power play while attempting a one-timer close to the Minnesota State bench, but that didn’t mean his shift was over. In one swift motion, equipment manager Scott Rideout grabbed one of Morton’s other sticks from the rack behind him on the bench and handed it over the boards.
“That was a big play on his part,” Morton said. “Immediately when I looked to the bench, I saw him flying to get it. He’s good at what he does.”
Morton stayed in the play and scored a key goal just seconds later in MSU’s 4-0 CCHA men’s hockey victory over Northern Michigan on Saturday night at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center. The game was played in front of an announced crowd of 4,981.
The teams played to a 2-2 tie in Game 1 of the series Friday, with Northern getting the extra CCHA point by winning the shootout.
Rideout, who has been MSU’s equipment manager for 15 years, explained that the sticks are organized in the rack by jersey number, and that he knows the look of each player’s stick. That makes it easy to quickly grab the correct replacement.
He was also on alert for a break given the situation. Players are more likely to break a stick while attempting slap shots and one-timers, and the power play is the most common time to take those shots.
He said it’s common for equipment managers to be leaning toward the stick rack at all times during a power play, especially when it looks like a one-timer might be developing.
Morton, who now leads MSU with 19 goals, is a key cog on the power play, which also played a role.
“Five-on-five, he probably changes on that play,” Rideout said. “Special teams, you want to keep the best players out there.”
MSU coach Luke Strand joked: “As a former goalie, that’s probably his best chance to get an assist right there.”
Some bad luck hit MSU in the first period. Connor Gregga and Brian Carrabes hit the crossbar and post, respectively, early in the frame.
Will Hillman fired a third shot off iron late in the period, but Tyler Haskins scored a wraparound goal just seconds later at 14:28. MSU took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
Haskins, who was the game’s first star, has only been in the lineup one time since November. It was his third goal of the season.
“As a coach, when a player doesn’t play, it stinks,” Strand said. “You are working daily, religiously with your guys to continue to develop, to continue to improve. …
“I couldn’t be happier for the young man to put his nose after it and be rewarded.”
Morton scored his goal at 3:34 of the second period, and Zach Krajnik made it 3-0 at 11:48 with his first goal of the season. The second period included several lengthy reviews, but MSU controlled play throughout.
Josh Groll added an insurance goal to secure the win at 14:48 of the third period.
Shots on goal favored the Mavericks 26-18. MSU goaltender Alex Tracy made 18 saves to get his second shutout of the season.
“He’s been playing lights out,” Morton said. “We can do a little better job limiting some of the (chances) that were given up.”
The Mavericks (13-9-4, 9-5-2 in CCHA) play St. Thomas at 7:07 p.m. Friday at Mendota Heights. Game 2 of the series will be at 6:07 p.m. Saturday at the Event Center.
MSU and St. Thomas are now tied atop the CCHA standings with 30 points apiece. Both teams have played 16 league games.
“I love playoff hockey — it’s the most fun time of the year,” Morton said with a smile. “Every game is super important with how tight our league is, especially the next two this coming weekend.”
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