Michigan State University
Ferris State
Spartans Remain Unbeaten In CCHA Play
11/9/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Nov. 9, 2005
Big Rapids, Mich. - The Michigan State men's ice hockey team earned a difficult point on the road at Ferris State Tuesday night, tying the Bulldogs, 2-2. The Spartans upped their record to 5-1-2 and remained unbeaten in CCHA play at 2-0-2. Freshman goaltender Jeff Lerg (Livonia)made a career-high 29 saves to earn the decision and improve his personal record to 1-0-1 on the young season.
The Spartans jumped out in front just 1:16 into the game, when sophomore forward Jim McKenzie (Woodbury, Minn.) beat Ferris State goaltender Mitch O'Keefe with a beautiful shot, high to the glove side. Fellow sophomores Bryan Lerg (Livonia) and Daniel Vukovic (North York, Ont.) picked up assists on the play.
The Bulldogs evened the score on their third power-play of the first period with a goal at 14:44. Defenseman Jim Jorgensen fanned on a shot attempt, but the puck slid right to FSU's Adam Miller at the side of the net; Miller buried a shot past a helpless Jeff Lerg.
Senior Colton Fretter (Harrow, Ont.) nearly gave Michigan State the lead when he hit the post on a semi-break away at 19:33 of the period,but the two teams went into the first intermission tied at one goal a piece.
The Spartans were called for two more penalties early in the second period, a holding call against junior forward Tyler Howells (Eden Prairie, Minn.) negated an MSU power-play and a slash by Brandon Warner (Huntertown, Ind.) resulted in the Bulldogs fifth power-play of the night just 5:18 into the second period, but FSU could not capitalize with the man-advantage.
Ferris State finally broke the deadlock on its eighth power-play opportunity of the night, a four-on-three. Sophomore Matt Stefanishion's drive from the point eluded a screened Jeff Lerg at 5:47.
The Spartans answered just 1:14 seconds later on a power-play of their own. Howells collected his own rebound at the side of the net and beat O'Keefe through the five-hole to knot the game at two.
The Bulldogs produced a great chance at 14:10 of the third period when they entered the zone on an abbreviated three-on-two, but a sliding Vukovic broke up the FSU rush before Stefanishion's shot could reach goaltender Jeff Lerg.
A late tripping call on Michigan State's Howells put FSU back on the power-play at 18:21 of the third. The Spartans nearly picked up their third shorthanded goal of the season when freshman forward Justin Abdelkader (Muskegon, Mich.) was denied on a breakaway; on the ensuing Bulldog rush senior Jared Nightingale (Cheboygan, Mich.) was called for interference giving Ferris State a five-on-three with just over 0:32 remaining. Senior captain Drew Miller (East Lansing, Mich.) blocked two shots in a span of 0:10 to force overtime.
The Spartans returned one man at 0:13 of the overtime period and held off the Ferris State power-play thanks to a pair of sparkling saves by Jeff Lerg to earn a hard-fought point on the road.
Michigan State's next game will be at home vs. the University of Nebraska-Omaha; the puck drops at Munn Ice Arena at 7:05 p.m. on Friday Nov. 11. Saturday's rematch has been moved to 5:05 p.m., allowing fans to attend both hockey and men's basketball on Nov. 12.
