Michigan State University
Alaska-Fairbanks
Quick Goals Lead Hockey Past UAF, 5-1
11/5/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Nov. 5, 1999
EAST LANSING, Mich. - After making a 16-hour trip to get to Fairbanks, Alaska, on Wednesday, Michigan State's hockey team scored the two biggest goals of Friday night's game just 44 seconds apart.
A pair of Spartan tallies just 44 seconds apart less than five minutes into the game erased any questions about jet lag and provided the boost MSU needed to go on to beat the Nanooks, 5-1.
Michigan State extends its winning streak to seven games and is 7-1-0 overall (7-0-0 CCHA). The Spartans could equal their best start in CCHA history (8-0 in 1986-87) with a win tomorrow night. UAF fell to 3-6-0 (2-5-0).
Junior left wing Damon Whitten struck first, as the MSU power play provided the first goal of the game for the fifth time in six games. Freshman center Troy Ferguson carried the puck into the Alaska Fairbanks zone but was checked at the top of the circle. Junior wing Sean Patchell swooped in, picked up the puck and made a perfect pass to Whitten on the right side. His one-timer beat UAF goaltender Lance Mayes on the short side.
Junior right wing John Nail got the second goal on a shot from the left faceoff dot just 44 seconds after Whitten's goal. Nail's goal, unassisted, ended a 36-game goal-less drought for for the Brampton, Ont., native, dating back to the Nov. 29, 1998 game against Minnesota.
Alaska Fairbanks picked up the pace of its game in the second half of the first period, and eventually pulled within one goal just past the midway point of the second period. On its third power play of the game, the Nanooks' Sjon Wynia swiped at a bouncing rebound in the left faceoff circle and batted it past goaltender Joe Blackburn.
The Spartans regained their two-goal lead when junior defenseman Brody Brandstatter scored his second goal in as many games. Brandstatter, who had not scored in his first 50 career games, took a pass from Shawn Horcoff at the top of the right circle and wristed a shot past Mayes.
MSU built its lead to 4-1 early in the third period, with two freshmen combining for a goal. Defenseman Brad Fast pinched in at the blue line and intercepted the puck, passing it down low to forward Steve Clark. Clark's shot was stopped by Mayes, but Fast, who kept moving into the zone, picked up the rebound, skated across the crease to get Mayes moving and slipped the puck under his outstretched arm.
Sophomore right wing Adam Hall finished the scoring, as he intercepted the puck behind the UAF goal, skated out in front and beat Mayes. It marked Hall's seventh goal in the last seven games and his 13th goal in his last 13 games dating back to last season.
