Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
Miami Ohio
MSU Hockey Downs Miami, 3-1
2/22/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Feb. 22, 2002
OXFORD, Ohio - Michigan State scored twice on the power play and got 30 saves from junior goaltender Ryan Miller (East Lansing, Mich.) as the Spartans dealt host Miami a 3-1 loss at Goggin Ice Arena Friday. With the win, the Spartans (22-6-5 overall, 16-5-4 Central Collegiate Hockey Association) remain deadlocked in a first-place tie atop the CCHA standings with Michigan, a 4-0 winner over Ohio State in Ann Arbor tonight.
"Our power play versus their penalty kill - that was the difference in the game," said MSU coach Ron Mason. "Ryan made some nice saves and we were able to keep the puck out of the net. If you only give up one (goal), chances are you're going to win the game."
The slumbering Spartan power play, which has scored just eight times in its last 54 chances, awoke during MSU's first man-advantage opportunity of the night. Freshman center Ash Goldie (London, Ont.) notched his sixth goal of the season, unleashing a blast from the top of the near faceoff circle that rocketed over the glove of RedHawk goaltender David Burleigh and into the upper-right corner of the net. Defensemen John-Michael Liles (Zionsville, Ind.) and Duncan Keith (Penticton, B.C.) earned assists on the marker 13:48 into the opening period.
"I basically put my head down and ripped it and it went top shelf," said Goldie, whose shot quickly popped back out of the net. "I thought it (went in) but I wasn't sure. As soon as I looked at the referee, he was pointing toward the net. Obviously if he points, then it's in."
MSU picked up its second power-play tally of the game in the second period. With Joe Pomaranski serving a minor penalty for tripping, freshman wing Mike Lalonde (Chetwynd, B.C.) lugged the puck into the Miami end on the near wing and snapped a wrist shot from inside the faceoff circle that beat Burleigh to his glove side at the 6:07 mark. Freshman center Jim Slater (Lapeer, Mich.) and senior defenseman Andrew Hutchinson (Hudson, Ohio) picked up assists on Lalonde's eighth goal of the season.
Steve Jackson (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) added to the MSU lead with a goal 4:03 into the third period. The junior wing broke into the offensive zone on the far side, got around a Miami defender and tried to stuff a shot past Burleigh. The RedHawk goaltender made the initial save but couldn't control the rebound, which lingered just in front of the Miami crease. A Spartan forward whiffed on an initial attempt but the puck trickled to Jackson, who was just to the left of the Miami goal and flicked a quick shot into a virtually empty net for his fourth goal of the season.
Miller, who entered Friday's game having posted four straight shutouts against Miami (11-18-2, 8-15-2 CCHA), finally allowed goal in the third period, ending a shutout streak of 344:59 against the RedHawks in the process. Danny Stewart scored his fifth goal of the season with 7:08 left in regulation, deflecting a shot by linemate Greg Hogeboom past the Spartan goalie.
"(Miami) is known for being really strong in front of the net," said Miller. "We were able to wear them down and good things happen when you can make them tired."
The Spartans and RedHawks close their two-game series tomorrow in Oxford. Faceoff is set for 7:35 p.m. EST.
