Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
Miami
Spartan Hockey Rebounds With 3-2 Win Over Miami
2/1/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Feb. 1, 2003
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Early on it looked like the Michigan State hockey team was going to suffer its second straight loss to the Miami (Ohio), but the Spartans overcame a 2-0 first period deficit and went on to beat the RedHawks 3-2 Saturday night (Feb. 1) at Munn Ice Arena in East Lansing, Mich. The victory moved MSU back into fourth place in the CCHA standings as they head into a nine-game stretch against teams with a combined record of 53-44-7, including four games against its intrastate-rival Michigan.
MSU Head Coach Rick Comley felt the game was critical to his team's success the rest of the way.
"This win got us into fourth place and that's exactly what we're trying to do right now -climb up the ladder," said Comley.
Comley also thought that sophomore netminder Matt Migliaccio played a steady game in goal even though he gave up two early goals.
Migliaccio found himself under heavy fire early in the first period as the Red Hawks peppered the young netminder with seven shots in less than six minutes. Migliaccio was sharp, but when he gave up a rebound out in front of the goal the RedHawks capitalized. Miami forward John Lenz put his team on top 1-0 at the 5:57-mark when he tapped the puck past Migliaccio.
The RedHawks continued to apply pressure in the Spartans' zone, and an interference penalty called on senior John-Michael Liles led to even more pressure. Miami's menacing power play, which accounted for three goals Friday night, struck again at 16:16 of the first period, putting Miami ahead 2-0. After taking a cross-ice pass from Andy Greene, Chris Michael blasted a slap shot from the right slot into the net before Migliaccio could slide over to make the save.
Miami looked like it would cruise into the first intermission up 2-0, but a holding call on Greene gave MSU a chance to cut into Miami's lead before the teams headed to the locker rooms. The Spartans did just that at the 19:37 mark when senior Brian Maloney registered his second goal in as many nights. At first glance, it looked as if senior Brad Fast's slap shot from the point had beaten the Red Hawks netminder, but a closer look proved otherwise. Maloney redirected the shot past David Burleigh making it a 2-1 affair after one period of play. The two senior blue-liners, Fast and Liles, assisted on the goal giving the pair three assists in the two contests against the RedHawks.
"We were really tight and nervous until we got that first goal," said Comley.
"We worked harder tonight, took the puck to the net, and converted on the chances we had," said Maloney.
Comley noted that Fast and Liles are key to the success of MSU's power play.
"Everybody in the country knows who those guys are (Fast and Liles)," said Comley "They're so patient on the power-play and they move the puck around and create great scoring chances."
The two teams traded great scoring chances throughout the second period, but solid performances by both netminders nullified any scores. At 12:55 of the second stanza, MSU finally landed a blow when freshman David Booth tallied his 15th goal of the year to tie the game 2-2. After David Burleigh stoned Jim Slater's breakaway chance, Booth rushed to the net and squeezed the puck through Burleigh's pads igniting the Spartan offense.
"Everyone played a steady game tonight," said Slater, who notched his 29th point tonight.
MSU grabbed its first lead of the weekend when sophomore Mike Lalonde emerged from a scrum in front of the net with the puck and knocked it into an open net giving MSU a 3-2 lead at 15:38 of the second. Lalonde's power-play goal was assisted on by Slater and Booth giving Booth his sixth multiple-point game of the season.
Once ahead, the Spartans refused to relinquish the one-goal lead the rest of the way. Migliaccio delivered when he had to throughout the third period turning away all nine Miami shots en route to a 31-save performance.
MSU (15-10-2, 10-7-1 CCHA) will travel to Bowling Green, Ohio, on Saturday, Feb. 8 to take on Bowling Green State University. The last time the two teams met BGSU came away with a 2-1 overtime victory.
SPARTAN NOTEBOOK
- Former MSU hockey standouts Ryan Miller, Adam Hall and Shawn Horcoff competed tonight in the NHL's Young Stars game in Sunrise, Fla.
