Gophers women’s hockey coach Brad Frost entered Friday night’s game with the Minnesota State-Mankato Mavericks at Ridder Arena with a handful of what he called snake-bit forwards. If one game is any indication, they are snake-bit no more. The Gophers pounded the Mavericks 8-2 for their first WCHA win of the season, rebounding from a 0-3-1 conference start against Ohio State and Wisconsin. The Gophers’ attack was led by transfer Natalie Mlynkova, who scored a pair of goals, giving her three on the season. The fifth-year senior, a native of Czechia, came in as an accomplished offensive player, having scored 49 goals and adding 49 assists in her four seasons at Vermont. But she was one of the players Frost had in mind when he talked about slow offensive starts. “Maybe I was holding my stick a little tighter than usual,” Mlynkova said, “but maybe it was more about getting the job done that I was brought in to do. I felt like I wasn’t really accomplishing that. That’s when it became frustrating, especially when the team needed one more goal. “When you lose by one goal and you know that you should be one of the people that should put it on yourself, that’s obviously more frustrating.” Following last Friday’s lackluster loss to Wisconsin, Frost shook up his top line, moving Mlynkova from her spot as No. 2 center to left wing on the top line with center Ella Huber and right wing Abbey Murphy. All three had goals in Friday’s win, and looked like a unit that likely will stay together for the immediate future. “We are still getting used to each other and I’m getting used to a different position,” Mlynkova said. “So, just keep communicating and building that chemistry. But so far, I can’t really complain. “I think we read off each other pretty well. Hopefully, it will just keep getting better and better.” The 5-foot-3 Mlynkova was one of the prize pickups in the transfer portal during the offseason. Along with her success at Vermont, she was a member of Czechia’s 2022 Olympic team. “She really dynamic,” Frost said. “She’s quick, she’s hard on pucks. She was the Hockey East Player of the Year last season and a top-three player in the World Championships this last April. “She loves hockey, which you can tell by the way she plays.” Mlynkova said she left Vermont in search of a new challenge. She took her time during the recruitment process before her and good friend Krista Parkkonen, a Vermont defenseman, both decided to join the Gophers. “It just felt like the right place for me,” Mlynkova said, “and from a hockey development standout, a good fit.” The two friends did not enter the portal as a “package deal,” but Mlynkova is thrilled with the way things worked out. “We went into the process individually,” she said, “We just wanted what was best for one another. If we ended up together, great. If we didn’t, just wishing each other the best. Having one of my best friends here helps with the transition. Happy to be here, and super grateful that Krista is here as well.” The Gophers took the lead 43 seconds into the game with Mlynkova scoring on a two-on-one feed from Murphy. Lauren O’Hara gave the Gophers a 2-0 lead at 17:20 of the first period when she redirected a shot from the right point by Sydney Morrow. Three unanswered goals in the second period gave the Gophers a 5-0 lead. Josefin Bouveng scored on a rebound at 1:06 after Chloe Primerano was stopped on an end-to-end rush. Mlynkova picked up her second of the game on a wrist shot from the slot at 4:07. The Gophers killed off a five-on-three disadvantage for 49 seconds midway through the period, and punctuated the remainder of the penalty kill with shorthanded goal by Huber. Murphy, Peyton Hemp and Madison Kaiser added third-period goals before the Mavericks ended Gophers freshman goaltender Hannah Clark’s bid for her first career shutout at 14:00. “Obviously, a little disappointed that we gave up the two late,” Frost said. “You’ve got a freshman goalie looking for her first shoutout. We’ve got to close games a little better. The result was not in doubt the last five minutes, but you’ve still got to play the right way and not turn pucks over. “But overall, that’s what we were looking for.” Related Articles College Sports | Women’s hockey: No. 3 Gophers become latest prey for top-ranked Badgers College Sports | Depth shines for Gopher women’s hockey in Sunday win, weekend sweep against Boston University College Sports | Women’s hockey: One goal enough as Gophers squeeze past Boston University