SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Lake Superior State (LSSU) hockey program (9-23-2, 8-17-1 CCHA) is set to take on the top-seeded Minnesota State Mavericks (21-12-1, 16-9-1 CCHA) in a best-of-three series in the opening round of the 2023 Mason Cup Playoffs with puck drop for game one scheduled for 7:07 p.m. Central Standard Time in Mankato, Minn.

Stories to watch:

• The reigning Mason Cup Champion Mavericks bested the Lakers in their only series of the regular season between the two programs, but LSSU battled, staying at least within one goal of Minnesota State for all but eight seconds of the series due to an empty-netter after falling in overtime the day prior.
• The Lakers have been a much improved team down the stretch, winning five of their last seven contests leading up to the Mason Cup Playoffs.
• Since the turn of the calendar year, only two programs have claimed multiple victories over the Lakers, the Bowling Green Falcons and Minnesota State. 
• Minnesota State is coming off of a series split against Michigan Tech after scoring the game-winner with 40 seconds remaining in regulation of game two, securing their sixth-consecutive MacNaughton Cup outright. Meanwhile, the Lakers finished the regular season 
  with a sweep over Ferris State. 
• The Lakers will be relying on a much improved defense that has proven to be a force in the latter half of the year, not allowing more than three goals in a game since Jan. 13
• Laker captain Louis Boudon (Grenoble, France) was named the CCHA Forward of the Week for the second time this season and sixth time in his career after a four-point weekend against Ferris State (1G, 3A) that included primary assists on Friday's game-winner and Saturday's empty-netter to secure the Lakers' first series sweep of the season. 
• LSSU goaltenders Ethan Langenegger (Kamloops, B.C.) and Seth Eisele (Lake Elmo, Minn.) are each on a hot streak between the pipes since Jan. 14 with respective save percentages of .943 and .928 to rank 1st and 3rd in the CCHA in that span with only Michigan Tech's Blake Pietila (.938) separating them.
• Jake Willets (Monroe, Mich.) came alive late in the opening contest against Ferris State last weekend, scoring both the game-tying and game-winning goals against his former team. 
• The Mavericks boast the nations top faceoff percentage (59.4%), but they will be up against Boudon in the circle who enters the postseason leading the CCHA in faceoffs won (426) which also ranks fourth nationally.
• Harrison Roy (Lakeville, Mass.) has proven to be a force on the power play since the turn of the calendar year with seven power play goals since the start of 2023, ranking second in the CCHA and 12th nationally in that category.
• Eight different Lakers have recorded at least ten points entering the Mason Cup Playoffs, led by Boudon and Jacob Bengtsson (Stockholm, Sweden) with 23 points each.
• Bengtsson is currently leading LSSU in assists this season with 22.
• Roy leads the team in goals so far this season with 12, including a pair of game-winners.