Hockey Beats Alaska Fairbanks, 3-2

Feb. 14, 2004

FAIRBANKS, ALASKA - Michigan State hockey picked up a hard-fought 3-2 win at Alaska Fairbanks on Saturday. With tonight's win, MSU earned a split on the week after UAF posted a 5-4 overtime victory on Friday.

"We had to find a way to win for sure," said MSU head coach Rick Comley. "We were worried about the game energy wise. In the third period, we got a good effort from a lot of people and got a very big win.

"Our top four defenseman played a ton. Corey Potter was outstanding all weekend and so was Jared Nightingale."

UAF (14-15-1 overall, 13-12-1 CCHA) jumped out to the early lead on a goal by Jordan Hendry. Ryan Lang won the face-off and drew the puck back to Hendry, who fired a shot that beat Matt Migliaccio (Jr., Wyandotte, Mich.).

The Spartans finally got in the scoreboard at the 13:46 mark of the middle stanza on a goal by Tommy Goebel (Fr., Parma, Ohio). Migliaccio sent a pass up the boards to Kevin Estrada (Jr., Surrey, B.C.), who had the initial shot on goal. UAF netminder Keith Bartusch couldn't control the rebound as Goebel tapped the puck into the empty net to even the game at one.

However, the Nanooks would cash in on the power play to take a 2-1 lead with just 29.6 seconds left in the middle stanza. Aaron Voros fired a shot from the point that was tipped by a Spartan defender into the net.

Freshman Tyler Howells (Eden Prairie, Minn.) found the perfect time to score his first collegiate goal and even the game at two. The play was set up by the play of MSU in the offensive zone as Drew Miller (Fr., East Lansing, Mich.) dug the puck out from behind the net and sent a pass through the crease over to Howells, who one-timed a shot to beat Bartusch.

"It's been a while since I scored, so it's exciting," said Howells. "It's good to get the monkey off my back, and I'm hoping there will be a few more in the next five weeks.

"(Drew) Miller sent me the puck from the corner and I just ripped it. It went five hole and I don't even think the goalie saw it."

Michigan State (18-15-1 overall, 14-9-1 CCHA) took the lead for the first time at the 6:40 mark with an Ash Goldie (Jr., London, Ont.) marker as the Spartans once again controlled play in the offensive zone. Defenseman Corey Potter (So., Mason, Mich.) sent the puck in behind the net and Brock Radunske (Jr., New Hamburg, Ont.) and (Jr., Adam Nightingale (Jr., Cheboygan, Mich.) dug the puck out as Nightingale sent a pass out to Goldie who was sitting alone in the slot for his eighth goal of the season and the eventual game winner.

Junior netminder Matt Migliaccio stopped 31 shots en route to his eighth win of the season.

Migliaccio, who was making his first start since the Jan. 24 game at Ohio State, finished with 31 saves en route to his eighth win of the season. Bartusch stopped 35 shots for UAF.

"I felt good all night, especially right off the bat," said Migliaccio. "The pucks were hitting me just right. It was a good feeling to walk away with two points."

Michigan State returns to Munn Ice Arena to face Nebraska-Omaha in a two-game set next weekend (Feb. 20-21). Friday's game starts at 7:05 p.m., while on Saturday the puck drops at 7:35 p.m. Saturday's game will be televised live by Fox Sports Net Detroit as part of the CCHA Game of the Week package.

Spartan Notebook
* Junior goaltender Matt Migliaccio picked up his third career assist and his first of the season on MSU's first goal.

* Brock Radunske (Jr., New Hamburg, Ont.) had a goal waved off at the 7:46 mark of the middle stanza as the official said it was knocked in with a high stick.

* Ash Goldie tallied his first goal in eight games with MSU's third goal at the 6:40 mark of the third period.