Michigan State University
Michigan
Hockey Falls To Michigan, 4-2
2/25/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Feb. 25, 2000
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State missed a chance to move into a share of first place in the CCHA Friday night, suffering a 4-2 loss to Michigan at Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Michigan took advantage of its opportunities in front of the net and got some good bounces, while the Spartans - who hit three pipes on the night - didn't seem to get any breaks.
"I thought we came out and played a strong game," said senior center and team captain Shawn Horcoff, who hit a post early in the third period while short-handed which could have made the score 2-2. "We just didn't get the bounces and they did. I thought we played well, but I give them a lot of credit. They played a very strong game."
The loss drops MSU to 22-10-2 overall (17-8-1 CCHA). The Spartans are four points behind Michigan (23-7-3, 18-5-3) in the CCHA race, one point ahead of Northern Michigan (20-9-4, 15-6-4). Tomorrow night's game with Michigan is a non-conference affair, but could have dramatic implications in the Spartans' NCAA tournament hopes.
Michigan State suffered an extra loss in the third period as its best defenseman, reigning CCHA Defensive Defenseman of the Year Mike Weaver, went down with a right knee sprain. He will be reevaluated tomorrow but will definitely miss tomorrow night's rematch at Joe Louis Arena (7:35 p.m., FOX Sports Net, WVFN-AM 730, WJR-AM 760).
The Spartans, who were down 2-0 late in the second, climbed back within one on a short-handed goal by Horcoff with just six seconds left in the period.
On the same Wolverine power play, which carried over into the third, Horcoff had a chance on a short-handed break about 30 seconds into the third period. He made a move on a one-on-one, fired a shot, and saw it ring off the right post.
"I made a move and he went down," Horcoff said. "I took the shot, had him beat, but it hit the post."
Just over a minute later, Michigan's Dave Huntzicker fired what seemed to be a harmless dump in from the neutral zone on the Spartan net. It eluded MSU goaltender Joe Blackburn, however, and made what could have been a 2-2 game 3-1.
"Once again our special teams kept it close and Shawn Horcoff's goal at the end of the second really gave us life," said Ron Mason, whose team was 1-for-5 on the power play while Michigan was 0-for-4. "Then, if Shawn scores instead of hitting the post and instead of them scoring from the red line a minute later, it's a whole different game. I thought that was the real turning point in the game."
Both of Michigan's first two goals came off of faceoff plays. The first was Mike Comrie's at the 7:50 mark of the second period. Andy Hilbert won the faceoff and Comrie's shot deflected off bodies in front and over Joe Blackburn.
"The first goal in a game like this is critical," Mason said, "and the one they got was kind of flukey. We really wanted to get that first goal and they had a real edge when they got it.
"In games like this, you better score when you get your opportunities, and to their credit they did that."
Geoff Koch got the next Wolverine goal at 15:46 of the second period to give UM a 2-0 lead. Sean Peach and John Shouneyia, who won the faceoff, had the assists.
Horcoff got the Spartans back within one with just six seconds to play in the second period thanks to a brilliant individual effort while short-handed. Horcoff held off a Michigan defenseman to get the puck into the zone. After he failed to get a shot off, however, the Spartans kept control of the puck, with Adam Hall working it back to Brad Hodgins at the point. Hodgins' shot was deflected by Horcoff past Josh Blackburn to make it 2-1.
Then came Horcoff's post early in the third and Huntzicker's long distance shot.
Still, the Spartans battled back. Towards the end of an MSU power play, Hodgins' shot from the point deflected off a Michigan player and past UM goaltender Josh Blackburn. That made it 3-2 with 8:43 to play.
Michigan answered, however, thanks to some dazzling moves by freshman Mike Cammalleri. Cammalleri beat an MSU defenseman one-on-one, then deked Blackburn to make it 4-2 with 5:48 remaining.
"Even though they are more of an offensive team, they are really tough to come back against," Horcoff said. "Especially at home in the third period. I give them credit."
