Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan OT Goal Snaps MSU Unbeaten Streak
1/27/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Jan. 27, 2001
DETROIT, Mich. - It had to end sometime.
Michigan's Andy Hilbert scored with 1:57 left in overtime to lead the Wolverines to a 4-3 win over top-ranked Michigan State in front of 19,618 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit tonight. The loss brought to an end the 23-game Spartan unbeaten streak and while bringing Michigan to within three points of MSU for first place in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association standings.
The 20-0-3 stretch that ended with tonight's loss ties the school record set by the 1998-99 Spartans, who reeled off an 18-0-5 streak en route to a berth in the NCAA Frozen Four. MSU last tasted defeat on Oct. 20, when the Spartans were on the short end of a 2-1 decision against Nebraska-Omaha at Munn Ice Arena.
Hilbert took a feed from teammate Mark Kosick and broke into the MSU zone on the near side. He was knocked to the ice by the Spartans' Brad Fast (Fort St. John, B.C.) as he turned the corner toward the MSU net but managed to bat the puck past goaltender Ryan Miller (East Lansing, Mich.) to bring the see-saw game to a close.
The Spartans (21-2-4 overall, 14-2-3 CCHA) opened the scoring with the first period's only goal. Rustyn Dolyny (Fort Frances, Ont.) took a feed from teammate Damon Whitten (Brighton, Mich.) and blasted a shot from the top of the far face-off circle past Michigan netminder Josh Blackburn at 6:16.
Michigan (19-6-4, 13-4-2) jumped ahead with the first two goals of the second period. Josh Langfeld tallied 2:17 into the frame, ending Miller's shutout streak at 229:29 in the process, and John Shouneyia scored a little more than 10 minutes later, swatting a rebound off his own shot past Miller at 12:39.
Sophomore Troy Ferguson (Kitchener, Ont.) squared the game at 3-3 at 15:51 of the second period. Dolyny gloved a Wolverine clearing attempt in the Michigan zone and played it ahead to Ferguson, who beat Blackburn for his first goal of the season.
MSU took a 3-2 lead into the dressing room with a late second-period goal by defenseman Jon Insana (New Baltimore, Mich.). Insana reeled in a cross-ice feed from Andrew Bogle (Calgary, Alta.) and unleashed a rocket from just inside the blue line. The puck hit Blackburn and wobbled across the goal line with 57 seconds left in the period. The lead was short-lived, however, as Mike Cammalleri evened the score on a goal 1:14 into the third period.
Miller, who gave up four goals tonight after allowing a total of four markers in his last eight starts, made 32 saves for Michigan State. Blackburn stopped 23 shots for the Wolverines.
The Spartans return to action next Friday and Saturday when they travel to Marquette for a two-game CCHA set against Northern Michigan.
