The St. Thomas men’s hockey team, winners of its last five games, is looking very much like the team that earned the top spot in the CCHA preseason coaches poll.

A regulation win on Saturday night over No. 15 Minnesota State in Mankato would catapult the Tommies past the Mavericks and into the top spot in the conference.

The Tommies (11-7-3 overall, 8-3-2 CCHA) are second in the CCHA, one point behind Minnesota State (12-5-5, 8-3-3). The Tommies have played one less game.

“I don’t think we’ve played our best hockey yet,” Tommies head coach Rico Blasi said. “Which is, I guess, a good thing. But its also our job (as coaches) to make sure we’re pushing the pace here, pushing the envelope to make sure they get to that standard.”

The teams split the first two meetings this season, with the Mavericks winning 3-1 in St. Paul before the Tommies won in Mankato, 4-3 in overtime.

“We’ve had some really good games over the last couple of years,” Blasi said. “It’s a good in-state rival; we’ve battled pretty hard.

“They’re the best team in our league right now and we’re chasing them.”

Blasi said the key to the Tommies’ winning streak has been the players buying into the “team” mentality.

“Part of our culture is to make sure our compete level is at a good place,” Blasi added. “I think our guys have been doing that.”

Blasi said playing a disciplined game will be a key for the Tommies.

“We can’t give the special teams any opportunities,” he said. “They are very good offensively. Their ‘D’ corps is as mobile as any ‘D’ corps in the country.”

While not putting too much emphasis on one game at this stage of the season, the outcome could prove pivotal. The teams will be meeting for the final time during the regular season.

“We’ll only have 12 games, six weeks left,” Blasi said. “The month of February is really short, and we’ve put ourselves in position where we’re playing meaningful games in January and February.

“So, this is important. We only play one game this weekend. I’m sure (Mavericks head coach Luke Strand) is telling them the same thing. As much as I say it at the beginning of the year, there’s always the thought that there’s so many games left.

“Now when I say it, they know that there isn’t that much time left.”

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