Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
Michigan
Spartan Hockey Falls At No. 8 Michigan, 3-1
2/14/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Feb. 14, 2003
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) - Jeff Tambellini couldn't have helped give Al Montoya a better birthday present.
Tambellini scored two goals and Montoya made 33 saves a day after he turned 18 as Michigan defeated Michigan State 3-1 on Friday night before a raucous sellout of crowd of 6,924 at Yost Ice Arena.
"Definitely, turning 18 and winning my first game against Michigan State, I can't ask for more than that," said Montoya, who, like Tambellini, is a freshman.
Tambellini scored just 13 seconds into the game when what looked like a pass from the corner hit a skate and bounced into the net.
"That's usually a shot for me," said Tambellini, the son of former NHL player and current Vancouver Canucks' vice president of player personnel, Steve Tambellini. "Most people think it's a pass. Just shoot it at the net and hope it hits something."
The Spartans' Jim Slater tied it at 1:49 into the second period with a power play goal.
But the Wolverines killed the Spartans' other six power-play chances, including a 42-second five-on-three in the second period.
"In games like this, specialty teams and goaltending are so important," said Spartans coach Rick Comley. "We knew they kill penalties very well. I thought that we had more quality chances than they did. But Montoya was very good."
Tambellini restored Michigan's lead just 2:31 after Slater's effort with his second goal of the game. It was a quick wrister from the left circle that beat Matt Migliaccio high on the short side.
That shot gave Tambellini 20 goals for the season.
"He's a goal scorer. he can shoot the puck and overpower you," said Michigan coach Red Berenson, who picked up his 497th career victory. "Part of it is his release and part of it is accuracy. And he shoots it with authority. It's not a mistake he has 20 goals."
Jason Ryznar made it 3-1 Wolverines with a wrist shot at 2:35 left in the second period.
Michigan is 15-5-1 in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and 21-7-1 overall. Michigan State is 12-8-1 and 16-11-2. The two teams play again Saturday night in East Lansing.
