Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
Michigan
Spartan Hockey Blanks Michigan, 4-0
2/28/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Feb. 28, 2003
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Michigan State head coach Rick Comley was looking for a complete team effort on Friday night (Feb. 28) and the Spartan hockey team delivered as Michigan State blanked Michigan, 4-0 at Yost Ice Arena.
"I thought our kids worked hard tonight," commented Comley. "This was a good win for us. There were some funky goals tonight, but that is what sometimes happens when you are on the road."
Michigan State jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on goals by Joe Markusen (Park River, N.D.) and Lee Falardeau (Midland, Mich.). Markusen's goal, at the 8:02 mark of the opening stanza, was his first goal of the season and just the second of his career. Freshman defenseman Corey Potter (Mason, Mich.) took a shot from the blueline that was blocked by a Michigan defender. Sophomore forward Mike Lalonde (Chetwynd, B.C.) cleared the puck out to Markusen, who fired a wrist shot over the left shoulder of U-M goalie Al Montoya.
 Joe Markusen scored his second career goal and his first career game winner in MSU's 4-0 victory over Michigan.  | |
"I kept throwing the puck on net all year long and finally it found its way in," said Markusen. "It's a good feeling, especially in a game like this. I'm just glad to be able to contribute."
Falardeau, who has now registered a goal in three straight games, scored his fifth goal of the season at the 11:33 mark, to put State up 2-0. Senior Brian Maloney (Bassano, Alta.) put the initial shot on a goal, a rolling puck that handcuffed Montoya. The puck, which was just sitting in the goal crease, was tipped in by Falardeau.
The Wolverines had several changes early in the second period but Spartan netminder Matt Migliaccio (Wyandotte, Mich.) came up big. Migliaccio stopped Brandon Rogers on a shot off the face-off; Jason Ryznar on a quick shot from just inside the circle and had a shot by Brandon Kaleniecki go off his shoulder.
Michigan State would answer the call as Maloney would make it 3-0 on a power-play marker at the 8:46 mark of the second period. Senior defenseman John-Michael Liles (Zionsville, Ind.) stepped in on a clearing attempt by the Wolverines and put the initial shot on Montoya. Montoya made the initial save, but couldn't find the rebound and Maloney poked the puck home.
Migliaccio continued to come up with some big saves for the Spartans late in the middle stanza. He stopped Jeff Tambellini's shot from the blueline, just off a draw and also made a nice glove save on defenseman Nick Martens. After two periods, the Wolverines held a 26-to-17 edge in shots on goal.
The Spartans would score their second power play mark of the night, just 17 seconds into the third period to make it 4-0 as freshman forward Colton Fretter (Harrow, Ont.) did a great job in the offensive zone to gain control of the puck. Fretter fed a pass back to Liles at the blue line; in turn, Liles fed the puck to Maloney in the slot, who fired a one timer that beat Montoya.
"The third and fourth goals were big," Comley said. "No lead is safe when a team has the talent that Michigan does.
Migliaccio, who was selected the game's No. 1 star, posted his fourth career shutout, stopping 37 shots. Montoya stopped 15 shots before being replaced by Noah Ruden. Ruden finished with six stops.
"It feels great," said Migliaccio. "It was a perfect game all around. The defense did a great job - they were able to block any shots that I couldn't see. It was amazing. I was in a zone and it felt good. It was a good all-around effort."
Tonight's shutout marked just the sixth time in Spartan hockey history that State has shutout Michigan. The last time MSU shutout Michigan was on March 17, 2001, a 2-0 victory at Joe Louis Arena.
Michigan State and Michigan will face-off tomorrow (March 1), at 7:35 p.m., at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. The game will be televised by Fox Sports Detroit as part of the CCHA Game of the Week package.
Spartan Notebook
* Sophomore forward Jim Slater missed the game due to injury.
* Junior defenseman Joe Markusen scored his second career goal at Michigan. His first career marker was on Feb. 23, 2001. It also marked his first point since the Jan. 18 contest vs. Nebraska-Omaha.
* With an assist on MSU's second goal, senior defenseman Brad Fast extended his point streak to eight games where he has compiled 1-10-11 totals.
* Senior forward Brain Maloney has 11 goals in his last 12 games.
* Michigan State finished 2-of-4 on the power play. Michigan, which had entered the game leading the nation on the penalty kill at 91.9 percent (148-of-161), allowed two power play markers for only the third time all season.
