Missouri State University's Nikita Salnikov has 51 points in 41 contest this winter for the 14th-ranked Bears, or 1.24 points per game, prior to Thursday's at John L. Wilson Arena.
University of Jamestown's best men's hockey player, junior forward Allan Pruss, has 29 points in 29 games, for example.
Jamestown held the Penza, Russia native to zero points as the home team defeated the Bears 6-3 in an American Collegiate Hockey Association contest. The 17th-ranked Jimmies improved to 18-12-1 and have won eight of nine games going back to Jan. 25, while Missouri State dropped to 28-11-3.
The Jimmies and Bears are back at it today at John L. Wilson Arena at 7 p.m.
"We don't necessarily scheme against one player," said Jamestown coach Cole Bell. "We take a look at their structure and the way they play and try to find ways to counter that. I thought we did that well tonight."
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Top-line Jimmie defenseman Trevor Okino wasn't on Salnikov at all times, but stopped the scoring threat a few times. Okino stopped Salnikov from getting into the zone with 12:40 left in the third period and once again with 12:05 remaining.
Okino said he didn't even know Salnikov was even a scoring threat.
"I think we noticed him on the power play and he was a shooter there," Okino said. "So we have to block shots and make him uncomfortable on the ice. It feels good keeping him off the scoresheet, but a win feels better."
Missouri State's Jordan Bratton scored the lone first period goal with 2:40 remaining in the first period. But then the Pruss-Dylan Haney line and Cole Sonstebo awoken in the next frame.
Michael and Allan Pruss assisted on a goal to Dylan Haney, while Allan gave the Jimmies a 2-1 lead just over four minutes into the second.
"I just saw great stuff and plays," Bell said of the second period. "The Pruss' have been firing on all cylinders. Those two and Haney have been a deadly combo and they've been hot lately."
Sonstebo followed the Pruss-Haney line with a pair of snipes to give the Jimmies a 4-1 lead and a early exit for Missouri State goalie Bailey Stephens. Sonstebo completed the hat trick with a empty-net goal with 17 ticks remaining in the third period.
"He's been working really hard, doing the right things and it's nice seeing him get rewarded," Bell said. "We've been working hard on that (sniping) and getting him some shots."
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Jamestown has been hovering around the No. 16, 17, or 18 ranking in the 2018-19 ACHA men's Division 1 since Nov. 7. The top 20 teams make the ACHA national tournament in March.
"I wouldn't say tonight was a must-win. But all games are important this time of year, no matter who you're playing," Bell said. "You want to make sure to keep the momentum going, especially the way we've been playing. Obviously Missouri State is a tough opponent and we wanted to make sure to come out on top."
(17) University of Jamestown 6, (14) Missouri State University 3
MSU 1 0 2 -- 3
UJ 0 4 2 -- 6
First period
1. MS, Jordan Bratton (Unassisted), 18:20, 10.
Second period
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2. UJ, Dylan Haney (Michael Pruss, Allan Pruss), 1:56; 3. UJ, Allan Pruss (Michael Pruss, Trevor Okino), 3:40; 4. UJ, Cole Sonstebo (Cameron Todd, Trevor Okino), 11:22; 5. UJ, Sonstebo (Okino, Todd), 12:17.
Third period
6. UJ, A. Pruss (M. Pruss), 1:03; 7. MS, Josh Bell (Brennan Anderson), 9:23; 8. MS, Bell (Anderson, Chris Brown), 17:43; 8. UJ, Sonstebo (Unassisted), 19:37, EN.
Goalie saves: UJ, Tyson Brouwer 10-13-8--31. MS, Bailey Stephen 7-5-X--12; Brady Griffin X-5-9--14
Records: University of Jamestown 13-10-1. Missouri State 24-10-4.
