Insider: Playoff chase bringing out St. Cloud State's best

ST. CLOUD—As the race for postseason has heated up, so has the St. Cloud State women's hockey team (9-19-4, 7-16-3-2 WCHA). As the Huskies head to Minnesota Duluth for their final regular season series, they do so playing arguably their best hockey of the season.

As it battles for the highest playoff seed available to it, SCSU is unbeaten in three of its last four games (2-1-1) and has gained 12 points from its last four WCHA series—its best eight-game stretch in conference play this year.

The switch flipped for the Huskies during its unbeaten series against then-No. 7 Colgate to open the second half. It was then they realized the high level they were capable of performing at and the standard for the rest of their campaign was set.

"We have played some of our best hockey since the break," head coach Eric Rud said. "When you see where you can play, as a team, you aspire to get back to that level. Luckily for us, we're doing that over and over again right now."

"Our consistency right now, shift-to-shift and period-to-period, is outstanding," he added. "We haven't had many stretches of poor play. On offensive, defensive and special teams we are in a good place right now."

Offensively, sophomore forward Hannah Potrykus and freshman forward Kayla Friesen have come alive for SCSU in the second half. Since January 6, they lead the team with 10 and nine points, respectively. Potrykus has three points in her last three games and Friesen is in the midst of a four-game point streak—the longest four a Husky this season.

"Shift in and shift out our forward groups are not taking any time off," Rud said. "We've gotten into a good rhythm with our lines and it has kept everyone engaged and into the play."

On the line for St. Cloud State in Duluth is its second-straight fifth place finish and the program's highest back-to-back league finishes since placing fourth and third in 2008-09 and 2009-10, respectively. To clinch the No.5 seed, SCSU needs five points against the Bulldogs or one point or less from the Ohio State and three points or less for the Bemidji State.

"Part of your goals for the season is to finish as high as you possibly can," Rud said. "It's important for your team's confidence to do so."

UP NEXT: St. Cloud State (9-19-4, 7-16-3-2 WCHA) at Minnesota Duluth (20-5-5, 19-4-3-2 WCHA)—Friday, February 16, 7:07 p.m.; Saturday, February 17, 4:07 p.m.

HOW TO FOLLOW:

TV: My 9 (Duluth)—Saturday
Watch Live
Live Stats
Game Notes (PDF)

SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS: Minnesota Duluth enters the final weekend of the regular season on the heels of a winless two-game set at No. 1 Wisconsin. UMD tied the Badgers, 1-1, last Friday before falling, 8-0, on Saturday. The loss snapped a nine-game unbeaten run (7-0-2) to open the second half of the season. The Bulldogs are 7-1-2 in their last 10 games. They are led by senior forward Lara Stalder, who paces the team with 19 goals, 26 assists and 45 points. She is tied for sixth, nationally, in points and tied for seventh in goals. UMD boasts one of the WCHA's best between the pipes in sophomore goaltender Maddie Rooney. She has started every game in goal for the Bulldogs this season and boasts a 1.73 goals-against average and .938 save percentage, the latter of which ranks No. 5 in the country.

ALL-TIME SERIES: St. Cloud State is 11-60-5 (.178) all-time against Minnesota Duluth, including a pair of setbacks, 3-0 and 3-2, earlier this season at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center. The Huskies are 1-4-1 in their last six meetings versus UMD. Their last road win in the series was a 4-1 triumph on Nov. 1, 2013.

In their last meeting, the Huskies were swept, 3-0 and 3-2, by in-state rival Minnesota Duluth, December 2-3, at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center. After being shutout in the series opener, senior defenseman Caroline Markstrom and senior forward Lauren Hespenheide each scored a goal in the finale of the series against the Bulldogs. Six different Huskies registered a point in that game as a third period comeback fell one goal short.

LAST TIME OUT: In its last outings, SCSU split a home series against Bemidji State. The Huskies tallied their second-highest offensive output of the season in last Friday's 5-2 win before falling, 3-1, on Saturday thanks to a bad luck bounce late in the third period. Six different players scored in the series, three of whom were freshman and included rookie forward Brooke Kudirka's first career goal.

KEY NOTES TO CONSIDER:

FIGHTING FOR FIFTH: With just two games to play in the regular season, the Huskies postseason position is still up in the air. They can finish as high as fifth and as low as seventh, depending on their results against the Bulldogs. SCSU is currently in fifth place—one point ahead of Ohio State and four points ahead of Bemidji State. The Huskies can clinch fifth place with five points against the Bulldogs. One point or less from the Buckeyes and three points or less for the Beavers will also clinch fifth for SCSU.

REACHING NEW HEIGHTS: SCSU players continue to push new boundaries, offensively. With 30 games played, 13 players have already established new or equaled career highs in one or more of goals, assists and points in a single season—including six seniors: Hespenheide (assists, points), Markstrom (goals, assists, points), Saelens (assists, points), Redford (assists, points), Pena (goals, points) and Moody (goals).

FANTASTIC FRIESEN: Freshman forward Kayla Friesen notched two points (1 1) against BSU, extending her points streak to four games—the longest for a Huskies player this season. The Winnipeg, Manitoba native leads the team in assists (9) and is second in points (16). She is fifth among WCHA rookies in points, tied for sixth in assists and tied for second in goals (7).

SWISS SENSATION: Freshman goaltender Janine Alder continues to set the standard for rookie goaltenders at St. Cloud State. The Zurich, Switzerland native has started four-straight games and has a .945 save percentage over that span. On the season, she boasts a .930 save percentage and a 2.33 goals-against average—both of which are on pace to set SCSU single season records. She is also the first freshman to record multiple shutouts in a season (3) and her save percentage ranks ninth, nationally.

SILKY TYLKE: Sophomore forward Julia Tylke's goal last Friday helped put the game away and upped her team-leading total to 11 on the season. She leads SCSU in points (19) and goals and is tied for second in assists (8). The Delafield, Wis., native is 13th among conference goal-scorers and is tied for 22nd among point-getters.

POTRYKUS PROSPERING: With two points (1 1) last Friday against the Beavers, sophomore forward Hannah Potrykus has three points (1 2) in her last three games. Since returning from injury on January 6 against Colgate, Potrykus has 10 points (4 6) in 12 games, including three multi-point performances.

100 GAMES FOR ERICKSON: Last weekend was a milestone one for junior forward Alyssa Erickson, who played her 100th career game in last Friday's 5-2 win over Bemidji State. She recorded two assists in the game. This season, she is second on the team in goals (8) and fourth in points (14). She is the third Husky to reach 100 career games this season, following redshirt senior defenseman Jenna Redford and senior defenseman Christa Moody.

MAGNIFICENT MARKSTROM: Markstrom has been an offensive revelation on the blue line in her senior season. The Kovland, Sweden native leads all Huskies defenders with three goals and has set new career highs in goals (3), assists (2) and points (5).

CLASS of 2021: Eight players have signed National Letters of Intent to play for this Huskies this fall: forwards Emma Bigham (Minnetonka, Minn.), Laura Kluge (Berlin, Germany), Aubrey Pritchett (Orange, Calif.) and Megan Roe (Woodhaven, Mich.); defensemen Hannah Bates (Trenton, Mich.), Tatum Coats (Lakewood, Calif.) and Kenzie Wylie (Ham Lake, Minn.); and goaltender Emma Polusny (Mound, Minn.).

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