Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
Lake Superior State
Spartan Hockey Shutouts Lake Superior State, 6-0
1/5/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Jan. 4, 2003
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - MSU head coach Rick Comley was looking for a complete team effort and his Spartans delivered, posting a 6-0 shutout over Lake Superior State on Saturday night (Jan. 4) at the Taffy Abel Arena in Sault Ste. Marie. The win came one night after the Spartans dropped a 7-1 decision to the Lakers.
"I thought we rallied and played better," Comley said. "We were balanced and we worked hard. The big difference in the two games was goaltending.
Spartan goalie Matt Migliaccio earned his second shutout of the season, stopping 21 Laker shots. He had one save in the first period, 14 in the second and six in the third. Migliaccio's other shutout also was against LSSU on Oct. 24.
"LSSU had some good chances, but I felt comfortable in net," said Migliaccio.
For the second consecutive night, Michigan State jumped out to a 1-0 lead at the 6:18 mark of the first period. David Booth (Washington, Mich.) poked home a rebound for his team-leading ninth goal of the season. Jim Slater (Lapeer, Mich.) and Corey Potter (Mason, Mich.) drew the assists on Booth's power play marker.
The Spartans were on fire in the opening stanza, outshooting the Lakers 19-to-1. Several Spartans had quality scoring chances, including Mike Lalonde (Chetwynd, B.C.) on a 3-on-2 odd-man rush and Brian Maloney (Bassano, Alta.), who had a point blank chance in front of Laker goalie Matt Violin.
The Spartans made it 2-0 on a LSSU delayed penalty as Colton Fretter (Harrow, Ont.) tipped a Brad Fast (Fort St. John, B.C.) blast from the blue line at the 16:20 mark of the second period. Booth dug the puck out of the corner and passed it back to Fast, who fired the initial shot towards the goal.
Nenad Gajic (Burnaby, B.C.) gave the Spartans a 3-0 advantage with his third goal of the season. Gajic's goal, which came off a Laker turnover in the neutral zone, was rolling on edge as he shot it towards the LSSU goal.
 Mike Lalonde equaled his career best with a pair of goals at LSSU.  | |
Back-to-back goals by Lalonde increased the Spartan lead to 5-0. Lalonde's first goal came on the power play, while his second marker was an empty net tally. The pair of goals by Lalonde tied his career best for goals in a contest.
Freshman defenseman Jared Nightingale (Cheboygan, Mich.) closed out the scoring for the Spartans as he registered his first goal of the season at the 12:31 mark of the third period. Nightingale fired a shot from just inside the blueline, which beat Violin. Potter and Maloney drew the assists on Nightingale's first collegiate goal.
Michigan State (9-9-1 overall, 5-6 CCHA) returns to Munn Arena to face Alaska Fairbanks next Friday and Saturday (Jan. 10-11). Face-off on Friday is set for 7:35 p.m., while Saturday's game gets underway at 7:05 p.m.
