Is this the year for Minnesota State?

How difficult has Minnesota State's season been to date?

They played the UMass team that was No. 1 in the country, the reigning national champions, on the road. And they won both games by a combined score of 8-3, with a plus-37 shot advantage.

Then they hosted St. Cloud State, the No. 2 team in the country. The teams split two tight games (3-2 SCSU on aggregate), outshooting them in both contests.

Then, this past weekend in the Icebreaker tournament, the Mavericks beat the No. 10 Providence College Friars, 5-2, with a plus-17 shot advantage.

And on Saturday, they narrowly lost to a Michigan team that entered the weekend No. 3 in the nation. The Wolverines needed two third-period goals, one with under five minutes to go in the game, and were outshot by 10.

So, through six games against what is u