MANKATO, Minn. (Verizon Wireless Center) – Bryce Gervais posted two goals and two assists and Matt Leitner added a goal and two assists to power Minnesota State University, Mankato past Bemidji State University, 6-3, Friday in Mankato, Minn.

Trailing 2-0 midway through the first period, the Beavers got a power-play goal from Matt Prapavessis with just 37 second to go to spark a rally. After second-period goals from John Parker and Cory Ward, the Beavers held a 3-2 lead to open the third period, but the No.13 Mavericks netted four goals, including an empty-netter, in the stanza and closed out the series opener in convincing fashion.

MSU’s special teams play was the difference in the game. The Mavericks opened the game with a short-handed goal and posted a pair of third-period, power-play markers in four chances.

Other than Prapavessis’ power-play goal, the Beavers came up dry with the extra man, finishing the game 1-for-4.

BSU goaltender Michael Bitzer matched a career-high 27 saves in the game, but was tagged with the loss after surrendering five goals.

The Beavers, now 3-4-0 overall and 2-1-0 in WCHA play, wrap up their WCHA series with league's preseason favorite, MSU (6-3-0; 4-1-0 WCHA) tomorrow. The series finale will get underway at 7:07 p.m.

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Bemidji State men’s hockey notes:

• John Parker netted his first point of the season with a goal 25 seconds into the second period.  He finished his sophomore season with three points (2g-1a) a year ago.
• With a goal and an assist in the game, Matt Prapavessis has recorded a point in four straight games (3g-3a).
• After two goals in the second period of tonight’s games, BSU has out scored its opponents 13-8.
• Sam Rendle contributed a pair of assists in the game, marking the second multi-point game of his senior season and the third of his career. The senior already matched his scoring total from a year ago (1g-4a).
• After netting just one point (1g) in the Beavers’ first five games, Cory Ward posted a goal in two straight games.
• Ward’s goal and assists Friday marked his first multi-point effort of 2014-15. BSU’s leading scorer (18g-11a=29) finished his sophomore campaign with five.
• Prapavessis’ power-play goal marked the Beavers first since  the end of a three-game, 19-chance drought on the man advantage. BSU’s last power-play goal came off the stick off Cory Ward in the third period of BSU’s Oct. 10 game at Minnesota.
• Senor blueliner Matt Prapavessis continues to lead all BSU players in scoring versus the Mavericks. In nine career games versus MSU, the Oakville, Ontario native has posted a goal and five assists.
• Prapavessis logged a season-high six blocked shots Friday. Sophomore Ruslan Pedan leads the team with 18 blocked shots this season.
• Reigning WCHA Offensive Player of the Week Nate Arentz was held without a point, snapping a three-game scoring run by the sophomore.

• Bemidji State continues to hold a 47-43-13 lead in the all-time series with Minnesota State that got its start in 1974, however, BSU is just 1-7-0 in the last eight meetings versus the Mavericks and has lost four straight.
• BSU seeks its first win over MSU since a 4-1, Nov. 1,2013 victory at Sanford Center.
• The last time BSU won on Minnesota State’s home ice was Feb. 5, 2011 by a score of 4-1.
• BSU is 16-28-8 all-time when playing the Mavericks in Mankato.
• The Beavers have allowed a short-handed goal in three of their first seven games of 2014-15. BSU allowed four shorties in all of 2013-14 and has already surpassed the amount surrendered in three (2003-04, 2008-09 and 2012-13) of its 16 seasons since moving to the NCAA Division I level.

• Bemidji State is 1-3-0 on the road this season.
• The Beavers are 1-4-0 in 2014-15 when allowing their opponents more than 30 shots on net.
• Tonight’s six-goal outburst by the Mavericks marks the third game this season BSU has allowed five or more goals. BSU is 0-3-0 in those games.
• Bemidji State is now 4-for-33 (.121) on the man advantage this year.
• MSU scored twice in four man-advantage opportunities Friday. BSU’s penalty-kill unit dips to 28-of-36 (.778)  on the season.
• Despite taking the loss, freshman goaltender, Michael Bitzer matched a career-high 27 saves.
• BSU was outshot 33-15 Friday, marking the fifth straight game the Beavers have been out shot. BSU is 2-3-0 when being outshot this season.
• Through its first six gams of 2014-15, BSU is averaging 3.43 goals per game to its opponent’s 3.29. A year ago BSU averaged just 2.42 goals per game.
• 2014-15 BSU men’s hockey stats
• 2014-15 BSU men’s hockey schedule
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Nestled in Northern Minnesota’s wooded region and located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men’s and women’s hockey membership in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).

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