Michigan State University
Rensselaer Tech
Three-Goal Second Lifts Hockey Past RPI, 4-1.
1/22/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Jan. 22, 2000
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State used a balanced attack and put forth one of its best efforts of the season in a 4-1 victory over 10th-ranked Rensselaer Saturday night at Munn Ice Arena.
Four different Spartans scored, led by junior right wing John Nail, whose goal and assist earned him number-one star of the game honors.
Nail set the pace in the first period with two punishing body checks on the same shift, helping the Spartans bounce back from a 1-0 deficit.
"John Nail had one of his better games of the year, and I would have thought that even if he hadn't scored," head coach Ron Mason said. "Everyone filled their roles tonight and we got contributions fom all four lines."
In fact, 17 of the 18 Spartan skaters registered a shot on goal, as MSU outshot the visitors, 30-19.
The nation's leading goal scorer, RPI's Brad Tapper, started the scoring in the first period while the Spartans were on a power play. An MSU giveaway in neutral ice led to Tapper's breakaway on freshman goaltender Ryan Miller. He made several moves with the puck before beating Miller between the legs.
Michigan State answered that goal less than six minutes later, as junior forward Sean Patchell scored from just in front of the net on a rebound of a John-Michael Liles shot. Nail started the play and had the second assist.
"Coming back and scoring that five-on-five goal after they scored was a key," said Mason, whose team had been 1-7-0 when its opponent scored first.
Seventh-ranked Michigan State scored three goals in the second period to put it away. The Spartans had an early power play and converted on a slap shot by freshman defenseman Brad Fast at the 0:38 mark.
Michigan State went up 3-1 on Adam Hall's first goal since December 11. Hall, who leads the Spartans with 15 goals on the year, converted after senior center Shawn Horcoff forced a turnover behind the RPI net and fed the puck into the slot.
"It definitely feels like it's been a while," said Hall, who was the captain of the U.S. National Junior Team which competed in the World Junior Championship from Dec. 26 to Jan. 3. "It was a tiring trip (to Sweden and back for the tournament), but I definitely feel back to form now."
Nail finished the scoring on a pretty three-on-two play, as freshman left wing Brian Maloney found him in the slot and he wristed it to the left of RPI goaltender Joel Laing.
"It was a quick break up the ice and I was at the end of my shift," Nail said. "I debated whether to go off the ice or not, but we had some room and I could fill a lane going to the net. I got the puck and looked up, saw that he was giving me some room and shot it."
"(John's) line is way overdue," Hall said. "The amount of work they put in day in and day out is unbelievable. Everyone on the bench was up when they scored."
The Spartans, who improved to 5-2-1 in non-conference games, appeared back in the form which led them to 10 straight CCHA victories to start the season.
"By playing a tough team like this it prepares you well for your league games," Mason said. "If we play the way we played tonight and everyone fills their roles the way they were, then I think we are getting back to the form we had at the beginning of the season and really haven't had since the Great Lakes tournament."
The Spartans return to league action next weekend, taking to the road to face Western Michigan Friday and Saturday nights.
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