Hockey Clips Bowling Green, 6-4

Dec. 5, 2004

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Behind a three-point night (one goal, two assists) by defenseman Tyler Howells (So., Eden Prairie, Minn.), Michigan State skated to a 6-4 win over Bowling Green on the road on Saturday (Dec. 4). With the win, State improves to 7-8-1 overall, 4-6-0 CCHA, while Bowling Green falls to 8-4-2 overall, 5-3-2 CCHA.

"This was a big win for us," said MSU head coach Rick Comley. "We played our hearts out last night and couldn't score. We played well and lost."

MSU jumped out to an early 1-0 on a goal by Adam Nightingale (Sr., Cheboygan, Mich.), just 3:19 into the contest. Nightingale took a feed from Howells, beat the BGSU defense and shot the puck low past BGSU netminder Bob Frazee.

Bowling Green evened the game at one as Rich Meloche beat MSU netminder Matt Migliaccio (Sr., Wyandotte, Mich.) for his sixth goal of the season. After MSU had killed off one 5-on-3, the Spartans were whistled for another penalty as the Falcons converted on that second 5-on-3.

Back-to-back power-play goals by Drew Miller (13:09) and David Booth (15:20) extended MSU's lead to 3-1 after one period. For Miller, it marked his fifth power-play tally and his seventh goal of the season. Meanwhile for Booth, the power-play goal was his first marker in nine contests.

Junior forward David Booth tallied his first goal in nine games at BGSU.

"There were so many penalties early in the hockey game," said Comley. "A lot of guys had to sit early in the hockey game. I tried to get them some short shifts later, just to try and get them in the hockey game."

All told, MSU was whistled for 14 penalty minutes in the opening stanza, while BGSU was called for five. The two teams combined for nine power-play attempts in the opening 20 minutes, including four by MSU.

The second period saw plenty of back and forth action as both teams had several quality scoring chances. Migliaccio came up huge for the Spartans, stopping the Falcons on a 4-on-2 and Jonathan Matsumoto sent a puck high over the net to keep the score 3-1.

MSU made it 4-1 on a goal by Kevin Estrada at the 14:47 mark. BGSU netminder Jon Horrell, who replaced starter Bob Frazee, made the initial save on Jeff Dunne's (Fr., Grover, Mo.) blast from the point, but couldn't control the rebound as Estrada poked it home for his third goal of the season.

The Falcons would answer with a pair of goals by Derek Whitmore, including one with just 55 seconds left in the second period to make it 4-3 after 40 minutes.

It took State just 41 seconds into the third period to reclaim a two-goal advantage (5-3) on a goal by Howells. Colton Fretter (Jr., Harrow, Ont.) blasted a shot through traffic that was blocked and Chris Mueller (Fr., West Seneca) found the puck and sent it back to Howells in the slot who one-timed a shot for his first goal of the season.

"Tyler has really grown into a player," said Comley when asked about Howells play. "Last year, he was in and out of the line-up. Tonight, we moved him back to defense because I left (A.J.) Thelen at home. He's smart and moves the puck very well."

Chris Snavely tallied his first goal of the season in MSU's 6-4 win at BGSU.

Chris Snavely (So., Lancaster, Pa.) gave the Spartans an insurance tally at the 7:30 mark to increase the lead to 6-3. However, BGSU's Michael Hodgson fired a shot from the point that beat Migliaccio high to the glove side to bring the Falcons back within two, 6-4.

Migliaccio finished with 20 stops, while Frazee and Horrell combined for 32 saves.

The Spartans continue league play facing Notre Dame in a home-and-home series. On Friday, Dec. 11, the teams meet in Notre Dame, Ind., at 8:05 p.m., as the game will be televised live by CSTV. On Saturday, Dec. 12, the series moves to East Lansing, Mich., for a 7:05 p.m. face-off.

Spartan Notebook
* SR G Matt Migliaccio made his first start since Oct. 29 when the Spartans posted a 5-2 win over Nebraska-Omaha. The Wyandotte, Mich., native finished with 20 stops for his second win of the season.

* State's D, which had accounted for just one goal in 14 games entering tonight's contest, scored two goals (Tyler Howells and Chris Snavely) in the win over BGSU.

* SR F Adam Nightingale scored his first goal of the season and his first since March 12, 2004 against Bowling Green.

* SO F/D Tyler Howells tallied his first goal of the season, just 41 seconds into the third period. Prior to tonight, he had just six assists in 10 games.

* All told, Howells finished with three points (one goal, two assists) for his first multiple-point game of the season. The three points equaled his career best, also set vs. Wayne State on Nov. 21, 2003.

* The Spartans are 7-3-1 when scoring the first goal of the game.

* MSU scored three power-play goals in the game (Drew Miller, David Booth and Tyler Howells) for the first time since the Nov. 6 game at Ferris State.

* Tonight's game also marked the 650th career win for MSU head coach Rick Comley.