Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
Michigan
Hockey Falls To Michigan, 5-4
3/1/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
March 1, 2003
DETROIT - Despite a valiant effort, the Michigan State hockey team came up just short, falling to No. 8 Michigan 5-4 at Joe Louis Arena on Saturday night (March 1). The Spartans were without the team's second-leading scorer Jim Slater for a second straight night.
"I thought that Michigan played much better," said MSU head coach Rick Comley. "We really missed (Jim) Slater tonight. Last night, it didn't become a factor. But tonight their speed really hurt us. We didn't have enough guys to match that speed."
Michigan State jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a power play marker by senior defenseman John-Michael Liles (Zionsville, Ind.) at the 3:43 mark of the opening period. Sophomore forward Brock Radunske (New Hamburg, Ont.) threaded a pass to defenseman Brad Fast (Fort St. John, B.C.), who passed the puck over to Liles. Liles fired a wrister from the point that beat U-M netminder Al Montoya.
Michigan would tie the game just minutes later on a goal by Jason Ryznar. It was Ryznar's fifth goal of the season with assists to Danny Richmond and David Moss.
Sophomore forward Lee Falardeau (Midland, Mich.) put the Spartans up 2-1 with a shorthanded marker at the 15:18 mark. Senior forward Brian Maloney (Bassano, Alta.) chipped a pass out to a streaking Falardeau, who slipped past the Wolverine defender and fired a backhander that beat Montoya.
Michigan would storm right back, just 23 seconds into the second period to even the game at two on a goal by Jed Ortmeyer. Mike Romensky gave the Wolverines a 3-2 advantage at the 2:55 mark with his second goal of the season.
"The start of the second period really hurt us," commented Comley.
The Spartans would answer the call and tie the game at three with their second shorthanded marker of the game. Fast chipped the puck over the U-M defender in the defensive zone and carried into the offensive zone, feeding a pass to junior forward Tim Hearon (Southgate, Mich.). In turn, Hearon passed the puck over to senior forward Troy Ferguson (Kitchener, Ont.) in the slot, who beat Montoya for his second goal of the season.
The Wolverines reclaimed the lead at 4-3 with a power play goal by John Shouneyia at the 17:40 mark of the middle stanza. Jeff Tambellini started the play with a shot from the blueline that was deflected by Eric Nystrom to Shouneyia. Shouneyia, who was camped just below the face-off circle and fired a shot that beat Migliaccio.
Michigan built a two-goal advantage with a goal by Brandon Kaleniecki early in the third period. Migliaccio stopped the initial shot by Andrew Ebbett, but couldn't find the rebound as Kaleniecki buried a shot from the slot for his 12th goal of the season.
MSU would strike right back, cutting the lead to 5-4 with another power play goal at the 6:22 mark. Sophomore forward Ash Goldie (London, Ont.) fired a high shot from the slot that Montoya was able to get a glove on, but it just snuck in under the cross bar. It was Goldie's first goal in 13 games. Fast and Migliaccio earned the assists on the goal.
Migliaccio came up with two big saves on Mark Mink and Dwight Helminen with just under six minutes to keep the score at 5-4. Michigan State had several opportunities in the closing seconds, but couldn't convert.
Migliaccio finished with 28 saves, while Montoya stopped 20 shots for Michigan.
Michigan State (19-13-2 overall, 15-10-1 CCHA) closes out the CCHA regular season against Western Michigan next weekend (March 7-8). The teams will meet in Kalamazoo on Friday (March 7), before returning to East Lansing on Saturday (March 8).
Spartan Notebook
* Sophomore forward Jim Slater missed his second straight game due to injury.
* With an assist on MSU's first goal, senior defenseman Brad Fast extended his point streak to nine games where he has compiled 1-13-14 totals.
* Sophomore forward Lee Falardeau has registered a goal in four straight games, dating back to the Feb. 21 game vs. Northern Michigan.
* Sophomore goaltender Matt Migliaccio picked up his first career point - an assist on MSU's fourth goal.
* All four of MSU goals were scored in specialty situations - two on the power play and two shorthanded.
* MSU registered two shorthanded goals in the game for the second time this season. The first time was vs. Alaska Fairbanks on Jan. 11.
.png&width=84&height=84&quality=100&type=webp)