Michigan State University Athletics
"Special" Spartans Down Alaska-Fairbanks
3/9/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
March 9, 2001
EAST LANSING, Mich. - It was a special night for the Michigan State hockey team.
Not special because the top-ranked and CCHA regular-season champion Spartans opened their best-of-three conference playoff series against Alaska-Fairbanks at Munn Ice Arena with pomp and circumstance, but due to the fact that MSU's power-play and penalty-killing units sparked the team in its 5-2 win over the 10th-seed Nanooks Friday.
The Spartans (29-4-4 overall) scored three power-play goals and converted on a shorthanded chance against UAF. The three tallies with the extra man match an MSU season high, while the shorthanded goal is the team's third in its last five games.
MSU started the scoring early in the first period thanks to the power play after UAF's Ryan Reinheller was whistled for hooking. Sophomore Brad Fast (Fort St. John, B.C.) took a shot from the point that deflected to senior Sean Patchell (Moonstone, Ont.). Patchell bided time to the left of Nanook goaltender Preston McKay and lifted the puck over the freshman's shoulder for his fourth goal of the season 3:48 into the game.
The Spartans capitalized on their second power play of the night, getting a goal from junior wing Adam Hall (Kalamazoo, Mich.), who tipped in a shot by sophomore John-Michael Liles (Zionsville, Ind.) to give MSU a 2-0 lead. Senior winger Rustyn Dolyny (Fort Frances, Ont.) also notched an assist.
"Power plays come and go and tonight it was on its numbers," said Michigan State coach Ron Mason. "Thank goodness it was, because that's what gave us the edge to win the game."
Alaska-Fairbanks halved the MSU lead 12:36 into the first when the Nanooks' Jim Lawrence tipped a shot from the point by a UAF defender past Spartan netminder Ryan Miller (East Lansing, Mich), who was screened on the play.
MSU would regain momentum late in the first period during a UAF power play when sophomore wing Brian Maloney (Bassano, Alta.) notched a shorthanded goal at 17:40. Maloney converted after he and Dolyny broke in on an odd-man rush and converted on a nice give-and-go.
"I was out there for a long time," said Dolyny of the play. "Fast got the turnover and chipped it up. I was actually going to change but when Brian was home free I joined him in on it. I was dead tired, but when you've got a two-on-none you have to take advantage of it."
After a scoreless second period, Maloney extended the Spartans' lead early in the third period with an even-strength goal at 3:29. Junior Joe Goodenow (Detroit, Mich.) took a shot on net that was stopped by McKay, but Maloney got the blade of his stick on the ice and batted it past the UAF netminder for his second marker of the night.
Dolyny notched the Spartans third power-play goal 11:38 into the third on a one-timer from the left circle off a feed from Liles. Maloney also assisted on the Spartan captain 12th goal of the season.
The pesky Nanooks, who outshot the Spartans 12-7 in the final frame, finished the scoring on a Pat Hallett goal with 3:27 left in the game.
"From what I can see out of Fairbanks, we'll have our hands full tomorrow night," said Mason. "They're a very tenacious hockey team. They're not going to give up. I'm really impressed with the way they play."
Miller stopped 32 shots on the night en route to his NCAA-best 27th win of the season. McKay made 26 saves for UAF
The Spartans can wrap up the first-round series with Alaska-Fairbanks with a win against the Nanooks at Munn Ice Arena tomorrow night. Faceoff is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
