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Minnesota State University, Mankato
Minnesota State University, Mankato

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Page address: https://web.mnsu.edu/sports/bluelineclub/news/html/fp_excel_010705.html

Mavericks search for killer instinct in second half

By Shane Frederick
Free Press Staff Writer

MANKATO — David Backes is sporting a fu manchu mustache this week, an intimidating, old-time hockey look that matches the Minnesota State sophomore forward's style of play.

"If we get that killer instinct," Backes said, "we're going to be a team to be reckoned with."

But killer instinct has less to do with facial hair and rock 'em, sock 'em hockey than it does scoring goals, something that hasn't come easily to the Mavericks this season.

As they enter the second half of their Western Collegiate Hockey League schedule with a weekend series at North Dakota, the Mavericks are scoring 3.05 goals per game, the lowest since coach Troy Jutting's first season on the job.

While that number is sixth best in the WCHA, Jutting and his players say it doesn't jive with all of the scoring opportunities - breakaways, power plays, wide-open shots, etc. - they have wasted.

The Mavericks are in seventh place in the conference with 4-9-1 record (7-10-3 overall) and nine points. But they've lost four one-goal games in league play, including one to North Dakota on opening weekend.

"We're getting the chances, but we're not scoring," Jutting said. "It's one of those deals where, if we find a way to break out of that, we have a chance to be successful."

The power play is part of the problem.

The Mavericks have scored on just 15.1 percent of their chances with the man advantage. That's more than two points lower than a season ago when the team often struggled just to get the puck out of its own zone.

"I think that's what's so frustrating," said Backes, the Mavericks' leading scorer with 20 points. "It would be one thing if we didn't have chances, but every night we're right there on the doorstep. You can see we're right there."

Junior forward Jeff Marler has personally dealt with the frustration of not scoring.

Struggling with injuries throughout his MSU career, he entered this season with 15 goals. But despite a clean bill of health this year, he's only put the puck in the net twice - three times if you count his goal during a shootout last week against Miami (Ohio).

Marler said he's trying to put the first half of the season out of his mind and concentrate on playing with more poise and patience and stop rushing his shots.

"We can be one of the top 10 teams in the nation, and we should be," Marler said. "But we're not putting the puck in when we have to."

Backes said it's going to take some coaxing to get the killer instinct out of his teammates. He said it will come with patience, confidence and, perhaps, a little luck.

"I don't tink there's an on-off switch," Backes said. "But I definitely think we can get some momentum. We're going to have to throw everything at the net and maybe we'll get one off a shin pad or one will go off the post and in instead of off the post and out."

Maybe a few more mustaches will be grown, too.

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