Michigan State University Athletics
Hockey Falls at Minnesota, 2-1
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
November 29, 1998
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Minnesota scored on a 5-on-3 power play midway through the third period to hand Michigan State its third loss of the season, 2-1 Sunday in Minneapolis, Minn.
The Spartans finish with a split in the College Hockey Showcase after beating Wisconsin on Friday and fall to 8-3-2 overall (6-2-2 CCHA). Michigan and Wisconsin tied 1-1 in the other game of the Showcase Sunday.
Minnesota got on the board first Sunday at Mariucci Arena on a short-handed goal by Mike Anderson. Erik Westrum won the face-off in the Spartans' zone back to Anderson, who fired it past sophomore goaltender Joe Blackburn.
"It was a face-off goal, so it didn't really matter that they were short-handed," head coach Ron Mason said. "It could have been five-on-five or 500-on-500."
The Spartans responded nearly 10 minutes later, as sophomore right wing John Nail recorded his first goal of the year. Senior left wing Bryan Adams picked up the puck in the neutral zone and carried it behind the Gophers' net. He found Nail in front, and the recent addition to the Spartans' top line beat goaltender Adam Hauser.
Penalties plagued Michigan State early in the third period, as three Spartans were sent to the penalty box before the 10-minute mark. Minnesota was on a five-on-three advantage when Wyatt Smith scored his ninth goal of the season to gain a 2-1 lead.
Michigan State ended up short-handed a minute and a half later following an extended skirmish in front of the Minnesota net. Every player on that end of the ice got involved and 42 penalty minutes were handed out. While replays showed Hauser getting involved and possibly starting the altercation, he was not penalized and Michigan State ended up short-handed.
"You can't come back when you spend the third period killing penalties and playing defense," Mason said. "It took its toll on us."
The Spartans still outshot Minnesota 13-5 in the third and had several good opportunities, but Hauser denied them.
"We're not scoring many goals, and that hurts us," Mason said. "Goal scoring goes in streaks. We're playing a lot of close games right now and not scoring, so when we score, we'll win those games."
Michigan State returns to action this weekend, Dec. 4-5, against Nebraska-Omaha at Munn Ice Arena.
