Spartans, Bulldogs Skate to 2-2 Stalemate

Nov. 7, 2006

East Lansing, Mich. - Michigan State took a 2-0 lead into the final frame, then watched a scrappy Ferris State team crawl back into the game with two goals less than two minutes apart in the third period as the two teams skated to a 2-2 deadlock at Munn Ice Arena on Tuesday evening. Jeff Lerg had a season-high 29 saves, while Tim Crowder had a goal and an assist in the stalemate. The Spartans, ranked #5/6 in this weeks national polls, move to 4-2-1 overall on the season, and are 2-2-1 in the CCHA. Ferris State is 3-5-1, 1-3-1 in conference action.

Michigan State, which had a quick turnaround after a physical, emotional series with Michigan last weekend, came out of the gate a bit slow, as Ferris State held an 11-4 edge in shots in the opening period. Goaltender Jeff Lerg was up to the task, stopping everything that came his way. The Bulldogs - with fresh legs after a bye weekend - kept coming, but could not solve the sophomore netminder.

The two teams skated through 35 minutes of scoreless hockey before Tim Kennedy scored his team-leading fifth goal of the year (and fourth power-play strike). Crowder tried to corral the puck behind the net, but had a defender dragging him down, so he threw it into the left dot for Tyler Howells. Howells found Kennedy just below the right circle, and Kennedy buried it past the glove hand of goalie Mitch O'Keefe for the Spartan lead.

Michigan State added to its lead in the final minute of play in the opening frame. The play initiated as a slapshot from the point by Dan Vukovic, but it was blocked by a defender. The puck took a lucky bounce off of Chris Mueller, which redirected it to Crowder, who quickly turned on it and fired it from the top of the hashmarks for his fourth goal of the season and second point of the night.

Ferris State had momentum early in the final stanza, and outshot the home team 7-2 over the opening half of the period . The Bulldogs got on the board at the 6:02 mark of the final frame, ending the shutout bid for Jeff Lerg. Chris Zarb fed Adam Welch at the top of the right circle, and his one-timer beat Lerg stick-side fror the defenseman's first goal of the season. Ferris gained the equalizer less than two minutes later when skating on the power play, as Dan Reidel put a quick, cross-slot pass on the tape of linemate Zac Pearson in the bottom of the left circle, and he had a wide-open left side to put his third goal of the season.

MSU would press for another tally to gut out a win, but fatigue played a factor over the balance of regulation and during overtime. Lerg finished with 29 saves, while O'Keefe had 20 for the Bulldogs.

The two teams will complete this week's home-and-home series on Friday in Big Rapids.

NOTES: Ferris State is now unbeaten in its last three games against the Spartans ... MSU has only played its clustermates in the CCHA ... The Spartans were held off the board in the first period for the first time this season ... Kennedy, with his fifth goal tonight, has surpassed his goal total from his freshman season (4) ... Justin Abdelkader skated in his 50th career game ... senior Chris Snavely made his season debut for the Spartans, paired early with Dan Vukovic on the blueline before seeing time at forward late in the game ... Chris Mueller finished a commanding 17-4 on faceoffs.