Michigan State University Athletics
#5 Spartan Hockey vs. Ohio State: Game Notes
10/23/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Oct. 23, 1999
Date October 23, 1999
Site Munn Ice Arena (6,170)
Time 7:05 p.m.
See the game live on AT&T Cable Services (MediaOne Ch. 17, TCI Ch. 13) in the Lansing area. Hear it live on WVFN-AM 730 or at www.broadcast.com/sports/ncaa/MichiganState
Note of the Night
More close calls ? For the fifth time in the last six meetings, last night?s Michigan State-Ohio State game was decided by one goal (or tied). The Buckeyes have been MSU?s toughest recent CCHA rival, with the two teams tied, 5-5-1, over the last 11 meetings.
Five More Notes No Media Person Should Be Without
1. Blanked by Blackburn ? Junior goaltender Joe Blackburn posted his fourth career shutout last night and his first of this season, recording 20 saves and holding off an Ohio State team which had two third-period power plays. Each of Blackburn?s last two shutouts have come by 1-0 scores (also Feb. 12, 1999, vs. Notre Dame).
2. Hall of fame ? Sophomore right wing Adam Hall had the game-winning goal last night at 7:47 of the first period, his third straight game with a one goal. Dating back to last season, when he led the CCHA in postseason scoring, Hall has nine goals in his last eight games.
3. Fantastic freshmen ? A freshman has at least one point in each of Michigan State?s first four games. Spartan rookies have combined for 38.5 percent of the team?s goals (five of 13) and and 34.3 percent of the team?s points (13 of 35).
4. The ALCS could have used some of these guys ? Tonight marks the second straight game featuring the CCHA?s experiemental four-man officiating system. The system, which utilizes two referees and two linesmen, is tentatively scheduled for use in 16 games this year. MSU will see it in both games this weekend and tentatively Nov. 12 vs. Bowling Green.
5. Special effects ? Michigan State has scored a power-play goal in each of its last three games and has scored on six of 22 opportunities in that time (27.3 percent).
Meanwhile, the Spartans have killed off 29 of their last 30 short-handed situations (96.7 percent), including all nine Ohio State power plays last night.
Others Receiving Votes
Whistle-stop tour ? Freshman left wing Brian Maloney has had quite an impact offensively (2-1-3) in his first four games. He has also had an effect on the penalty boxes in each rink. Consider:
? Through four games, Maloney has 45 penalty minutes. MSU?s leader last year, Chris Bogas, had 86 penalty minutes all year.
? Maloney has tied the MSU single-game record for penalties in a game (six vs. Nebraska-Omaha last Saturday) and penalty minutes in a period (17 vs. Ohio State in the third last night).
Give me a second ? Michigan State is outscoring opponents 6-1 in the second period, but the scoring is tied, 7-7, in the first and third periods.
This little piggy had two goals ? Head coach Ron Mason said the absence of junior left wing Damon Whitten from the Spartan lineup at Colorado College played a big role in the Spartans? disappointing performance. Whitten?s return last weekend reinforced that theory. Playing on a fractured right pinky toe suffered while blocking a shot in the Oct. 1 Green & White Game, Whitten had an assist Friday night and two goals Saturday night. It marked the first multiple-goal game in the career of the left wing, who had played goaltender until his junior year of high school.
Coaching connections ? Ohio State head coach John Markell played for MSU head coach Ron Mason at Bowling Green and was a teammate of Spartan assistant coach Tom Newton. Mason coached three CCHA coaches in college (Markell, Northern Michigan?s Rick Comley and Ferris State?s Bob Daniels).
Blue-line boys ? Michigan State?s freshman defensemen Brad Fast and John-Michael Liles have both been impressive early, with solid defensive instincts and an ability to jump into the offense. Both stand tied for second on the team in scoring and lead all defensemen with a goal and two assists (three points).
Fast had a short-handed goal last Friday at Nebraska-Omaha and added an assist. Last Saturday, Liles contributed a goal and two assists (all in the third period), including a goal and an assist in four-on-four situations.
Familiar faces ? Michigan State?s six former members of the U.S. Under-18 Team (Troy Ferguson, Joe Goodenow, Adam Hall, Andrew Hutchinson, Jon Insana and John-Michael Liles) will face former teammate Scott Titus vs. Ohio State.
Ohio State backup goaltender Chris Newman was the backup to MSU?s Ryan Miller with the Soo Indians of the NAHL last year.
Great goalies ? Michigan State?s goaltenders, junior Joe Blackburn and freshman Ryan Miller, were back-to-back winners of the USA Hockey Goaltender of the Year award in 1997 and ?98, respectively. Their numbers thus far are almost identical, with Blackburn posting a 1.99 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage and Miller at 2.02 and .927.
Head coach Ron Mason calls the team?s depth at goaltender its best since the days of Bob Essensa and Norm Foster in the mid-1980s.
Long time no see ? Michigan State and Ohio State haven?t played each other since Nov. 13, 1998, the longest the Spartans have gone without seeing one of the other CCHA teams. The two teams won?t see each other again in the 1999-2000 regular season, as MSU still will not have visited the Buckeyes? Value City Arena.
Patch things up ? Junior wing Sean Patchell is just one shy of his goal total from all of last year. He scored his third goal of 1998-99 in the NCAA semifinal game against New Hampshire and already has two goals and an assist this season.
INJURY REPORT ? Fr. F Pat Brush (left knee injury, out indefinitely), So. F Joe Goodenow (left hip injury, out indefinitely), Sr. G Mike Gresl (left hand fracture, out 5-7 weeks).
The fries at the bottom of the bag ? Jon Insana didn?t score a goal all year last year, but had one vs. Guelph ... Michigan State?s exhibition game against Guelph, had it been a real game, would have marked the Spartans? most goals in a game since 1991 (12 vs. Ohio State) and largest margin of victory since 1990 (12 goals vs. Ferris State) ... the only other time Michigan State opened the season against Colorado College was 1965-66 (a 4-0 loss), the year MSU won its first national championship ... Michigan State?s hockey team (No. 5), football team (AP No. 11) and men?s basketball team (preseason No. 1 by many publications) are all ranked in the nation?s top five.
SERIES INFORMATION vs. OHIO STATE:
? 83rd meeting: MSU leads, 65-12-5
? In East Lansing: MSU leads, 34-2-2
? First meeting: MSU 18, OSU 0 (12/7/57)
? Last meeting: MSU 1, OSU 0 (10/22/98)
? Last 10 meetings: MSU leads, 5-4-1
? Last year?s series: Tied, 1-1-1
? Five of the last six meetings have been tied of decided by one goal
MSU CAREER LEADERS vs. OSU Player (Yr., Pos.) GP, G-A-P Brad Hodgins (Sr., D) 12 GP, 3-6-9 Shawn Horcoff (Sr., C) 10 GP, 3-4-7 Rustyn Dolyny (Jr., C/W) 8 GP, 4-2-6 Mike Weaver (Sr., D) 12 GP, 1-2-3 Goaltenders (Yr.) W-L-T, GAA, Sv.% Joe Blackburn (Jr.) 2-1-1, 1.96, .887
