Spartans Fall, 2-1, in Nailbiter Against Michigan

Nov. 21, 2006

Ann Arbor, Mich. - The sixth-ranked Michigan State hockey team received a stellar, 26-save effort from sophomore netminder Jeff Lerg, and a spectacular coast-to-coast goal from leading scorer Tim Kennedy, but fell to No. 7 Michigan, 2-1, Nov. 21 at Yost Ice Arena.

The game began as a high-tempo, hard-hitting affair - the teams traded quality scoring chances, but the goaltenders were up to the task. The two best early chances for the Spartans were a pair by the third line - both Jay Sprague and Matt Schepke had chances down low, Schepke to the stick-side of Billy Sauer and Sprague by Sauer at the right post. Michigan's best chance was a breakaway by Chad Kolarik, whose rocket clanged off the left post. The Wolverines held a 9-4 shot advantage in the opening frame, but neither team found the back of the net.

Less than a minute into the second frame, Kennedy put the Spartans on the board with an end-to-end rush that yielded a highlight-reel goal. Kennedy collected the puck in the defensive zone at the left half wall and circled behind the net, beat Kevin Porter at the near blue line in neutral territory, split Jason Dest and Chris Summers in the offensive zone, tucking the puck between Dest's legs and corralling it again on the doorstep to poke it past Sauer for his seventh goal of the season.

The home team tied the game on a power-play strike at 12:22, their fifth attempt of the night. The Spartans were killing their second consecutive penalty, and during that nearly four-minute stretch, Michigan generated several good scoring chances and rang one off the post. With the second penalty nearly expired, TJ Hensick held the puck at the outer cusp of the near faceoff circle to Lerg's stick-side, and fed a perfect pass onto the tape of Porter below the right dot, who one-timed the puck into a yawning right side for his 11th goal of the season.

Michigan struck on the power play again just before the 6:30 mark of the final frame to take their first lead of the night. Porter passed to Hensick in the right circle, and the centerman flipped the puck from backhand to forehand and wristed the puck over the left shoulder of Jeff Lerg.

The Spartans spent the final 1:03 with a six-on-four advantage, with Dest taking an interference penalty in the final two minutes of play and Jeff Lerg on the bench in favor of the extra skater. Michigan State had several whacks at loose pucks in front of the net, but the Wolverine defense stood tall and recorded the one-goal win.

Michigan held the shot advantage in the contest (28-25).

The Spartans return to action Friday, Nov. 24 against No. 1 Minnesota in the first game of the College Hockey Showcase. Opening face off is scheduled for 8 ET and will be televised on FSN North.

NOTES: Michigan State has not allowed a first period goal in the last five games ... Four of Tim Kennedy's seven goals this season have come against Michigan ... Kennedy has 5-2-7 points in eight career games against the Wolverines...The unassisted tally was only the third of that variety this season. Kennedy has two of the three unassisted goals and all three have come against Michigan...Kennedy is now tied for the team lead in goals with Bryan Lerg with seven... Bryan Lerg was held goalless on the night, ending his goal-scoring streak at three games...Tonight was the first game of the 2006-07 season that Michigan State lost when giving up fewer than three goals. It was also the first time State dropped a decision when scoring first...Tonight marked the first time MSU entered the third period of the game tied.