Michigan State University Athletics
Lerg Named CCHA Goaltender of the Week
2/16/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Feb. 16, 2009
East Lansing, Mich. - Michgian State senior netminder Jeff Lerg (Livonia, Mich.) has been named the CCHA Goaltender of the Week on Monday, Feb. 16 for his play in the Ohio State series (Feb. 13-14). Lerg backstopped the Spartans to a four-point weekend, earning a shootout victory on Friday and a 2-1 win on Saturday.
Lerg stopped 69 of 71 shots in the weekend set with the Buckeyes. On Friday, Lerg stopped 36 shots, which included four stops in the overtime period, as the teams skated to a 1-1 tie. Lerg was superb in the shootout, stopping three of four attempts as MSU won, 2-1 in four rounds. On Saturday, Lerg made 33 saves to preserve a 2-1 victory.
Over the last two weekends, Lerg and the Spartans have allowed just four goals, and own a 2-0-2 record with one shootout victory. In that span, Lerg has a 0.96 GAA and .973 save percentage with one shutout.
In Saturday's 2-1 victory, Lerg recorded his 14th consecutive game with 29+ saves, and he leads the country with 893 stops. He ranks second nationally with 33.07 saves per game, and ranks 14th in save percentage (.924). He owns three of the top five single-game save performances in the country this season, highlighted by a career-best 54 against Miami on Jan. 17. He also had a 50-save outing at Wisconsin (Nov. 28) and made 49 stops against Michigan on Dec. 28 in the Great Lakes Invitational finals.
With 3,849 career saves, Lerg has already set the MSU career record for saves, and trails former Western Michigan netminder Glen Healy by just 83 saves for the all-time CCHA record. Lerg's total currently puts him seventh all-time in the NCAA annals, where Healy (1982-85) ranks third; Tim Thomas of Vermont (1994-97) sits in second with 3,950, and Robbie Moore of Michgian (1973-76) is the all-time NCAA leader with 4,434. Lerg needs 102 more saves to surpass Thomas; the Spartans have at least six games remaining, including playoffs.
It was the third Goaltender of the Week award for Lerg this season - he previously earned the honor on Oct. 13 and on Oct. 27.
Lerg is a finalist for the Hockey Humanitarian Award, as well as for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. Online voting is now up for the Lowe's Award - fans are encouraged to vote daily at www.seniorclassaward.com, or by texting "HOC7" to 839863.
Lerg and the Spartans engage in a home-and-home series this weekend with Bowling Green. Friday's game at Munn Ice Arena is at 7:05 p.m.
