Spartans Close Regular Season With Shutout Win at Bowling Green

March 1, 2008

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - - Junior netminder Jeff Lerg made 32 saves, senior Chris Mueller had a pair of goals and Tim Kennedy chipped in a goal and an assist as Michigan State posted a 4-0 shutout victory at Bowling Green on Saturday night to close the regular season. MSU finishes the campaign with a 23-9-5 mark, 19-6-3 in CCHA play.

Mueller put Michigan State on the board at 5:42. Tim Kennedy initiated the play from deep in the defensive zone, circling behind the net to collect the puck. He had it at the half-wall on the left side, and launched a long breakout pass to Mueller in the neutral zone on the right side. Mueller went in one-on-one with the goaltender, deked backhand, and put a wrister past Jimmy Spratt glove-side.

The Spartans doubled their lead at 9:24 of the second on an impressive individual effort by Kennedy. Breaking into the zone on a two-on-one with Mueller, Kennedy drew the defender, pulled up, then wristed the puck high stick-side under the blocker of Spratt. It was Kennedy's 100th career point, and his fifth goal in six games.

Jeff Dunne gave the Spartans a 3-0 lead with a power-play marker at 5:20, the first for the Spartans in the series. His blast from the top of the right circle, off a pass from Michael Ratchuk, was his second goal of the season.

Mueller potted his second of the night at 19:11, with Spratt on the bench in favor of an extra skater.

The Spartans have earned a first-round bye in the CCHA playoffs, and will host the quarterfinal round on March 14-15. MSU;s opponent will be determined based on the results and re-seeding after the opening round.

NOTES: Jeff Lerg posted his fourth shutout of the season, his single-season career best. He now has 10 in his career ... Lerg is now tied with Mike Buzak in career victories (65) ... The Spartans are now 21-1-2 when scoring the first goal of the game, 18-2-2 when leading after one, and 21-0-2 when leading after two ... Tim Kennedy's second-period goal pushed his career point total to 100, the second Spartan to reach the milestone in as many weeks. Linemate and fellow Buffalo native Chris Mueller hit it last week against Michigan ... Kennedy now has 5-4-9 in his last six games, tied for the longest active point-scoring streak with linemate Justin Abselkader (4-6-10) ... Kennedy has also pulled even with Bryan Lerg with 18 goals on the season. Kennedy has 38 points and 20 assists, also team bests ... Michigan State held BGSU without a power play goal in the series - the Falcons were 0-for-3 on Friday and 0-for-6 tonight ... ...