Michigan State University Athletics
Spartans Gain Dramatic 2-1 Win Over WMU
10/30/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Oct. 30, 2009
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Coach Rick | WMU Coach Jim Culhane
East Lansing, Mich. - Michigan State won its third straight home game with a 2-1 victory over previously unbeaten Western Michigan on Friday night at Munn Ice Arena. A last-grasp goal for the Broncos was waved off after a video review ruled that it had not crossed the line before the clock expired.
With Riley Gill pulled for an extra attacker, it appeared that centerman Max Campbell had an equalizing tally for the visitors, as he backhanded the puck past Drew Palmisano as the horn sounded. The review from CCHA officials showed that the puck had not crossed the line entirely before time had expired.
Michigan State came up with a goal midway through the opening frame to take a 1-0 lead into the first intermission. The play originated at the right point in MSU's offensive zone, when Jeff Petry's shot was blocked - Petry corralled the loose puck and got around the defender, setting up at the top of the right circle. He made a great cross-ice pass to Chris Forfar at the bottom of the left circle, and the freshman's shot hit the inside of the right post.
The second period started with a major challenge for MSU - freshman Matt Grassi was whistled for a five-minute major (and game misconduct) for checking from behind. MSU did a great job on the kill, limiting the Broncos to one shot early that hit off the post and an additional two on goal in the final 20 seconds of the man advantage.
Late in the frame, MSU extended its lead to 2-0 with a power-play strike from Dustin Gazley. Gazley pounced on a rebound from an Andrew Rowe shot on the right side and buried his second goal of the season.
The Broncos broke up the shutout at 14:27, getting a power-play goal from Trevor Elias. The freshman put a rebound off a Luke Witkowski shot past Palmisano for their only score of the game. Western Michigan pulled Riley Gill for the last minute of the game, but could not gain an equalizer until the final seconds of the game - but that proved (through video replay) to be a fraction of a second too late.
Palmisano finished with 23 saves, while Gill had 19 for Western Michigan. The Broncos recorded 24 blocked shots in the game, compared to nine for MSU.
The teams face off on Saturday in Kalamazoo to wrap up the season series. Gametime is 7:35 p.m.
NOTES: The Spartans have knocked off previously-undefeated teams in their last two games ... Michigan State won its third straight home game to open the season ... Michigan State will look to win its third road game of the year on Saturday at Lawson Arena. MSU has already equalled its road win total from a year ago (2) ... Michigan state also has half as many wins now (5) as it did in all of 2008-09. Last year, win No. 5 came on Dec. 27 against North Dakota in the Great Lakes Invitational ...Corey Tropp and Derek Grant were held without a point for the first time this season ...
