Michigan State University Athletics
Western Michigan Blanks MSU Hockey
1/12/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Jan. 12, 2002
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Hockey fans who saw Friday's Michigan State-Western Michigan shootout at Munn Ice Arena must've wondered if they were witnessing the same two teams Saturday in Kalamazoo.
In hard-hitting, tight-checking affair in front of a rare sellout crowd at Lawson Ice Arena, the Spartans (16-5-2 overall, 11-4-1 Central Collegiate Hockey Association) dropped a 2-0 decision to Western Michigan tonight. The shutout is the first against State since the 2001 Frozen Four semifinals, when North Dakota blanked MSU by the same score.
"They play hard here," said MSU coach Ron Mason. "For them, us and Michigan are probably their biggest games and I think their players responded favorably. But we had our chances to earn two points."
Despite a 9-4 Bronco shot advantage, the first period was even offensively. Spartan goaltender Ryan Miller (East Lansing, Mich.), looking his sharpest since MSU's two-game sweep at Northern Michigan in December, stopped all nine attempts he faced in the opening period and 22 for the game.
Both teams had one prime scoring opportunity in the first 20 minutes. MSU's Adam Hall (Kalamazoo, Mich.) ringed a wrist shot off the pipe from 10 feet out on State's lone power-play opportunity after taking a perfect feed from linemate Jim Slater (Lapeer, Mich). Hall the cross bar from nearly the exact same spot on the ice in the second period.
"Yesterday, the puck just seemed to go in all the time no matter what you do," said Hall, who had an outstanding weekend. "Games like today, it seems like you're getting all the chances but it just won't go in. I guess that's the way the game goes some time."
The Broncos' Paul Davies, meanwhile, thought he had a goal with 2:44 left before the break when he tried to stuff a rebound under a sprawled-out Miller. Despite the ensuing Western Michigan celebration, both referee Steve McInchak and the goal judge agreed the puck never crossed the goal line.
Western Michigan (12-9-3, 6-8-2 CCHA) took a one-goal lead early in the second period with its seond shorthanded goal in as many nights. The Spartan defensemen couldn't keep the puck in the Bronco end and it was picked up by WMU's Mike Bishai in the neutral zone. Bishai, streaking down the near wing, unleashed a shot that Miller kicked to the opposite direction. Lucas Drake, however, was trailing the play down the opposite wing uncontested, picked up the rebound and easily scored his fifth goal of the year at 1:53.
"The ice was really fast and our defensemen couldn't handle the puck," said Mason. "Their best player got it, shot it, they got the rebound and scored."
Shaun Rose notched the insurance goal for the Broncos with 5:35 left in regulation. He was assisted by Trevor Cook and Brent Rumble.
The Spartans continue their current three-game road trip with a rare Tuesday night matchup against Ferris State in Big Rapids. Faceoff at Ewigleben Ice Arena is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
