Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
Alaska-Fairbanks
Hockey Falls 1-0 At Alaska Fairbanks
2/13/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Feb. 13, 2005
FAIRBANKS, Alaska - Michigan State dropped a 1-0 heartbreaker at Alaska Fairbanks on Saturday night (Feb. 12). With the loss, MSU falls to 13-13-4 overall, 8-11-3 in the CCHA, while UAF improves to 11-12-3 overall, 10-11-3 in the CCHA.
"I thought we played well and worked hard," said MSU head coach Rick Comley. "We had a number of good opportunities. UAF is big and strong and they played just a little better today. We played well enough to win two."
Goaltending was the story of the game as UAF freshman netminder Wylie Rogers finished with 39 stops, including 12 in the first, 11 in the second and 16 in the third en route to No. 1 star of the game honors. Meanwhile, sophomore netminder Dominic Vicari (Clinton Township, Mich.) recorded 19 stops en route to No. 3 star of the game honors.
"We had a lot of chances that couldn't find the back of the net," said Drew Miller on State's performance. "Their goalie played well."
MSU held a 12-to-7 edge in shots in the opening stanza as the Spartans had several quality scoring chances, including a pair by Tyler Howells (So., Eden Prairie, Minn.) and a break-away opportunity by David Booth (Jr., Washington, Mich.).
The Nanooks opened the second period with a power play, just 21 seconds in the period, as Ethan Graham (So., Xenia, Ohio) was called for hooking. Vicari came up big on UAF's first power play as he stopped three shots.
Alaska Fairbanks took a 1-0 lead at the 4:46 mark of the second period. Senior Jared Sylvestre scored his ninth goal of the season on a strange play. The puck was sent over the net by Curtis Fraser, who was standing behind the net. Sylvestre, who was standing to the right of Vicari, just tipped the puck home.
MSU had a pair of chances to tie the game, but couldn't get the puck past UAF goaltender Wylie Rogers. A.J. Thelen (So., Savage, Minn.) found himself alone in the slot and forced Rogers to make a save on his shot. Moments later, Graham took a drop pass and hit the inside post, just to the right of Rogers.
The Spartans caught a break, just a little over a minute into the final stanza. UAF's Kelly Czuy fired a shot that beat Vicari cleanly, but hit the inside of the right post and went straight out.
With four minutes left in the game, Graham hit his second post of the game as he fired a shot from the blueline that clanged off the post. MSU continued to pressure the UAF net as Colton Fretter (Jr., Harrow, Ont.) hit the side of the net and Rogers made a pad save on a shot by Drew Miller (So., East Lansing, Mich.). With just 49 seconds remaining, State had a 3-on-1 break and Mike Lalonde's (Sr., Chetwynd, B.C.) shot was deflected just high.
With Vicari pulled for the final 1:32, State had several chances but couldn't convert for the equalizer.
"We never stopped," said Graham. "We kept working the entire game tonight, but it just couldn't fall for us around the net. We did play a solid three periods."
Michigan State returns home to face Ohio State in a two-game set at Munn Ice Arena next weekend (Feb. 18-19). The puck will drop at 7:35 p.m. Friday, while on Saturday; face-off is set for 7:05 p.m.
Spartan Notebook
* MSU, didn't have a power-play opportunity in Friday's 6-5 OT loss, had its first power-play opportunity just 40 seconds into Saturday's game. All told, the Spartans finished 0-of-2 with the man advantage.
* SO F/D Tyler Howells, who skated as a blueliner last night, was moved to forward for tonight's game. It marks the seventh time this season he has played forward as he has played defense on 17 times.
* The Spartans are 0-12-2 when trailing after 40 minutes of play this season.
* Combined with Friday's 6-5 OT win, MSU was swept on the road for the second time this season. The first was a two-game set at Northern Michigan (3-2 and 4-1) on Oct. 22-23, 2004.
* It also marks the third time this season that State has been swept in a two-game series. In addition to UAF and NMU, the Spartans dropped a two-game set with Michigan (Nov. 18-20, 2004).
* State is now 2-7 in one goal games this season.
