BEMIDJI — Michael Dorr tossed out a few different theories, but he couldn’t really explain away the difference between Fridays and Saturdays for the Minnesota State men’s hockey team.

“It’s kind of a weird thing we’ve got going right now,” the Mavericks captain said.

Minnesota State defeated Bemidji State 5-2 on Saturday at the Sanford Center to earn a Western Collegiate Hockey Association series split.

Dorr scored two goals and assisted on another one night after he and the Mavericks lost their fifth consecutive Friday-night game. In each of the last four series, MSU rebounded to win.

“I don’t know if it’s focus or just mentality,” said Dorr, who last had a three-point game exactly one year earlier against St. Cloud State. “Maybe (it’s) getting used to the style of play that we’re playing against. … just making little adjustments from Friday to Saturday. Maybe watching video a little closer, paying attention to small detail.”

The Mavericks (9-18-1, 5-14-1 in WCHA) are 6-6-0 in their last 12 games.

For Dorr and goal scorers Eriah Hayes and Zach Lehrke, they simply had to finish — something they failed to do on Friday. Good passes from Matt Leitner, Adam Mueller, Johnny McInnis and Lehrke set up the Mavericks’ first three goals. Mike Louwerse added an unassisted empty-net goal to secure the win.

“Really the only difference between tonight and last night,” Mavericks coach Troy Jutting said. “We gave up the same two goals; we just scored when we had chances. We probably had more chances last night than we did tonight.”

After a scoreless first period, the two teams combined for five goals in the second, with the Mavericks coming out ahead 3-2.

Hayes started the scoring at the 8:55 mark, firing behind goalie Andrew Walsh (20 saves) after getting a nifty touch pass from center to left wing from Leitner.

The Beavers countered just 1:19 later with a short-handed breakaway goal by David Boehm.

Dorr and Lehrke put MSU up 3-1 with five minutes left in the period, but 1:21 later, Bemidji’s Radoslav Illo scored into an open net after goaltender Phil Cook lost the puck behind him after a Boehm shot rang off the post.

That was the only gaffe by Cook, who made a handful of spectacular stops en route to a 29-save performance.

“We’re snakebitten on Fridays,” Cook said. “We realize what we have to do, and we come out and capitalize on Saturdays.”

The Mavericks defended well in the third period, holding the Beavers to eight shots in the frame.

Dorr gave MSU an insurance goal with 2:22 remaining in the game, getting a perfect saucer pass from Lehrke during a 3-on-1 rush to fire in.

“Michael Dorr had his best game and his best weekend (of the season),” Jutting said. “But he scored two goals tonight in a huge game for our hockey team. The seniors made some plays tonight. At this time of the year especially on the road in this league you have to depend on your old guys.”

Louwerse, Hayes and Lehrke each finished with a goal and an assist.

The Mavericks will host Michigan Tech on Friday and Saturday.

Minnesota State  0-3-2—5

Bemidji State       0-2-0—2



First period

Scoring: None.

Penalties: Schiller, MSU (slashing) 13:38; Wacker, BSU (interference) 17:48.



Second period

Scoring: 1. MSU-Hayes 11 (Leitner 12, LaFontaine 10) 1:50; 2. BSU-Boehm 2 (Kinne 5, Areshenko 5) shg 8:55; 3. MSU-Dorr 5 (Louwerse 3, Mueller 4) 10:14; 4. MSU-Lehrke 10 (McInnis 6, Dorr 10) 15:00; 5. BSU-Illo 6 (Boehm 4) 16:21

Penalties: Louwerse, MSU (high-sticking) 2:47; Jokinen, MSU (goaltender interference) 5:18; Windle, BSU (roughing) 8:09; Lehrke, MSU (boarding) 12:04

Third period

Scoring: 6. MSU-Dorr 6 (Lehrke 11, Hayes 9) 17:38; 7. MSU-Louwerse 1 (unassisted) ppg eng 18:51

Penalties: Areshenko, BSU (interference) 2:15; Illo, BSU (interference) 18:18; Knoll, MSU (hooking) 19:18

Summaries

Shots on goal: MSU 9-9-7—25, BSU 9-14-8—31. Penalties: MSU 5 for 10 minutes, BSU 4 for 8 minutes. Power plays: MSU 1 for 4; BSU 0 for 5. Goalie saves: MSU Cook 9-12-8—29 (2 GA); BSU Walsh 9-6-5—20 (4 GA).

Referees: Don Adam, Timm Walsh. Linesmen: Andy Dokken, Phil Stodgell.

Attendance: 4,344