Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
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Western Mich
MSU Hockey Skates To Draw With Western Michigan
11/17/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Nov. 17, 2000
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State hockey team was able to stifle the nation's highest-scoring hockey team for more than 66 minutes Friday night. Unfortunately, Western Michigan showed why they're one of the country's most potent offenses late in the third period.
The Broncos struck for two goals in the final frame en route to a 2-2 tie with the top-ranked Spartans in front of 6,813 at Munn Ice Arena in East Lansing. The tie allows both teams to keep lengthy unbeaten streaks intact - MSU (7-1-2 overall, 6-1-1 Central Collegiate Hockey Association) has six wins and a tie in their last seven outings while WMU (8-1-2, 3-0-2) are 7-0-1 in their last eight contests.
MSU struck early when Adam Hall (Kalamazoo, Mich.) intercepted a lazy outlet pass by a Bronco blueliner in the near faceoff circle and fired a shot past Western Michigan netminder Jeff Reynaert for his sixth goal of the season just 2:10 into the first period. The rest of the period belonged to Spartan netminder Ryan Miller (East Lansing, Mich.), who stopped 16 WMU shots in a busy first frame.
The Spartans took a two-goal advantage in the second period thanks to the power play. With two Broncos in the penalty box, defenseman John-Michael Liles (Zionsville, Ind.) found teammate Jeremy Jackson (Langley, B.C.) lurking near the slot to Reynaert's left. Jackson easily tipped Liles' pass past the WMU netminder to give MSU a 2-0 edge 5:50 into the middle frame.
Ben Gagnon started the Bronco comeback at 6:17 of the third period. David Gove, stationed on the near boards in the Spartan zone, hit a streaking Gagnon, who then one-timed a feed past Miller, who stopped 34 shots on the night for MSU. Gove netted the game-tying goal when he picked up a loose puck in a mad scramble to Miller's left and banged home his 14th goal of the year at 15:25.
The Spartans had numerous chances to put more points on the board but could not convert. Jeremy Jackson made a nifty one-on-one move in the second period, dropping the puck between a WMU defender's legs and undressing Reynaert, but could not control the puck on the backhand. Jackson also threaded the needle twice on cross-ice passes during an MSU power play, hitting linemate Brian Maloney (Bassano, Alberta), who was stationed to Reynaert's left near the goal mouth both times. Maloney, however, didn't get much wood on the puck the first time and shot wide on his second attempt.
MSU closes its four-game home stand this Tuesday (Nov. 21) when the Spartans welcome Lake Superior State to Munn Ice Arena. Faceoff is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
