Or not decided at all.
Both the Seawolves and Mavericks have played eight games this season, and each club has seen seven of its games decided either by one goal or not decided in anyone's favor: UAA owns two ties, Mankato owns four.
"To me, all these one-goal games -- you're learning how to gut it out,'' said Seawolves coach Dave Shyiak.
Mavericks bench boss Troy Jutting said tight games are just how things roll in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.
"I think that's what makes the league great,'' Jutting said. "It helps kids a ton. It puts them in situations where they're playing with something on the line all the time.''
Saturday provided the latest evidence.
Both teams led by one goal, both teams trailed by one goal.
And while UAA snapped its five-game losing streak, it now owns a six-game winless streak heading into an idle week. Given so many games decided by things as thin as a skate blade, it's hard for the Seawolves not to wonder what might have been.
"That's seven of our eight games that are one-goal games or a tie, and that's obviously a positive thing to build on,'' said UAA winger Tommy Grant. "We're right there. Break here, break there, we could be looking at a (substantial winning) record instead of whatever we are.''
UAA sits 1-5-2 overall and 0-3-1 in the WCHA. After Mankato's three-point weekend -- the Mavericks won 3-2 on Friday -- it is 2-2--4 overall and 2-2--2 in the WCHA.
UAA outshot Mankato 31-23 on Saturday and 62-43 on the weekend but managed one point in the league standings, where it sits tied for 11th place with Bemidji State.
"It's important we stay positive, stay the course, because we're doing a lot of good things,'' Shyiak said. "If we keep up these efforts, eventually we'll be rewarded.''
Tied 1-1 to open the third period, the Seawolves broke through with their moribund power play. They had converted three of 36 opportunities with the man advantage before senior center Craig Parkinson flicked in a Matt Bailey centering feed on what momentarily looked like a broken play to furnish a 2-1 lead.
Still, the Mavericks got their own power play in gear to forge a 2-2 tie. Mankato had converted five of 40 chances this season before winger Eriah Hayes banged in an Evan Mosey rebound from the doorstep with exactly five minutes left in regulation.
Mavericks sophomore goaltender Phil Cook generated another strong performance, stopping 29 shots for the second straight night. Seawolves freshman Rob Gunderson made 21 saves.
Mankato jumped to a 1-0 lead less than five minutes into the game when Corey Leivermann, crashing the net from just above the goal line on left wing, shoveled a rebound inside the left post.
Grant, who unleashed several cannonading blasts on the weekend to no avail, countered for a 1-1 tie with what was surely his softest shot of the series and possibly the most gentle of his career.
While defenseman Curtis Leinweber worked the puck off the left-wing boards, Grant skated low in the left circle and shot the puck as a Mankato defender also appeared to get his stick on it. The puck leaked through Cook's five-hole.
Find Doyle Woody's blog at adn.com/hockeyblog or call him at 257-4335.
Mankato 1 0 1 0 -- 2
UAA 0 1 1 0 -- 2
First Period -- 1, Mankato, Leivermann 2 (Mosey, Mueller), 4:32. Penalties -- Warner, UAA (interference), 4:32; Boe, Mankato (hooking), 16:29.
Second Period -- 2, UAA, Grant 3 (Leinweber, Kirchhevel), 12:21. Penalties -- Elbrecht, Mankato (holding), 1:05; Kwas, UAA (hooking), 1:57; Elbrecht, Mankato (tripping), 6:09; Mankato bench minor, served by Lehrke (too many men), 13:42.
Third Period -- 3, UAA, Parkinson 2 (Bailey, Kwas), 3:17 (pp); 4, Mankato, Hayes 2 (Mosey, Youds), 15:00 (pp). Penalties -- Hayes, Mankato (elbowing), :45; Dorr, Mankato (hooking), 3;09; Gellert, UAA (holding), 4:08; Hayes, Mankato (tripping), 9:24; Kirchhevel, UAA (tripping), 13:01.
Overtime -- None. Penalties -- None.
Shots on goal -- Mankato 6-5-10-2--23. UAA 8-13-8-2--31.
Power-play Opportunities -- Mankato 1 of 4; UAA 1 of 7.
Goalies -- Mankato, Cook, 3-2-1 (31 shots-29 saves). UAA, Gunderson, 1-3-1 (23-21).
A -- 2,957 (6,251). T -- 2:28.
Referees -- Brad Shepherd, C.J. Beaurline. Assistant referees -- Steve Glines, Travis Jackson.
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