Michigan State University
Miami (CCHA First-Round Playoffs)
Hontvet Leads Hockey Past Miami, 2-1
3/11/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
March 11, 2005
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Junior Chad Hontvet (Warroad, Minn.) scored the first two goals of his collegiate career to help lead the Michigan State hockey team (18-15-4 overall, 12-13-3 CCHA) past Miami, 2-1, in game one of its first-round CCHA playoff series, Friday, March 11, 2005, at Munn Ice Arena.
Sophomore goaltender Dominic Vicari (Clinton Township, Mich.) had a stellar, 25-save effort for the Spartans in the win. Brandon Crawford-West stopped 32 of 34 shots in a losing effort.
"You never feel good when you're behind, and (Miami goaltender Brandon) Crawford-West was obviously playing outstanding. I thought both goaltenders made an awful lot of good saves, and obviously, it was a game decided by power plays," said MSU head coach Rick Comley. "It was a very tight game, with good pace and good action. We had lots of really good scoring chances but we just couldn't get it by them; and Dominic (Vicari) had to match their good shots and our tips. He probably would have liked that first goal back, but he was outstanding after that."
Countless scoring chances and power-play opportunities for both teams characterized the first period. The Redhawks struck first with a power-play goal at 8:52 of the first period. Nathan Davis received a pass from Geoff Smith and put in a one timer from the bottom of the right face-off circle to make in a 1-0 game.
MSU's best chance at a goal in the first came when Jim McKenzie (Woodbury, Minn.) was left all alone in front of Crawford-West, but missed the net and fired the point-blank shot wide.
Both teams cracked-down defensively in the second period, playing not nearly as wide-open a game as in the first.
Michigan State received the game-tying goal from a very unlikely source, on the power play, at 7:35 of the second period. Off an initial shot from Ash Goldie (London, Ont.) in the slot, Hontvet, who was jockeying for position in front, tipped the puck over Crawford-West's left shoulder for his first collegiate goal. Mike Lalonde (Chetwynd, B.C.) also picked up an assist on the tally.
"I didn't really even know that I had it to tell the truth," said Hontvet on his first career goal. "I wasn't sure until I saw the replay and everyone told me. I think that it must have hit my stick or someone. I don't know really, but I'll take it though."
Hontvet's first two career goals are his third and fourth points in just his seventh game played this season. The assist ends a six-game pointless streak for Lalonde, and a seven-game drought for Goldie.
 Senior forward Ash Goldie picked up a pair of assists in MSU's 2-1 win over Miami.  | |
The multi-assist performance for Goldie is his second of the season. The other came Jan. 21 in an 8-0 victory over Lake Superior State. Graham's assist gives him 1-2--3 points in the past four games.
State executed a tight checking, defense-first game plan through the final two periods to hold the one-goal lead.
MSU will try to sweep the best-of-three series and advance to the Super Six tournament at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, tomorrow night (March 12), when they clash with Miami again at 7 p.m. EST.
Spartan Notebook
* JR F Chad Hontvet scored his first career goal on the power play in the second period at the 7:35 mark. With his second goal at 13:24 mark, Hontvet collected his first career multiple-point game.
* MSU's last three wins have been one-goal victories. In addition to tonight, State posted 3-2 and 2-1 victories over Notre Dame last weekend (March 4-5).
* SR F Ash Goldie, who picked up a pair of assists, marked his first points since Feb. 5 against Michigan.
* SR F Mike Lalonde collected his first point (an assist) since Feb. 18 against Ohio State. His points total on the season now stands at 5-6--11.
* State tallied a pair of power-play goals and is now 14-for-50 (.280) with the man advantage in the last seven games. MSU has scored at least two power-play markers in five of those seven games.
* SO D Ethan Graham has three points (one goal, two assists) in the last four games.
* The Spartans are 15-1 when leading the game after 40 minutes.
* MSU is 11-5-2 at Munn Arena on the season.
* Michigan State is 9-7-2 this season following a victory.
* With Friday's 2-1 win, the Spartans put together their third four-game unbeaten streak of the season to tie a season high. State also went 3-0-1 from Nov. 5-14, 2004 and then put together a 4-0-0 ledger from Dec. 11, 2004 to Jan.7, 2005.
* Michigan State leads the all-time series against Miami, 60-19-5. This includes a 32-11-3 edge over the Redhawks in games played in East Lansing.
* MSU Head Coach Rick Comley is 27-9-1 all-time against Miami.
* The three stars for tonight's game were:
#3 - Redhawks SO G Brandon Crawford-West (32 saves)
#2 - MSU SO G Dominic Vicari (25 saves)
#1 - MSU JR F Chad Hontvet (first two career goals)
