Michigan State University
Ferris State
Spartans Fall to Ferris, 3-0
11/23/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Nov. 23, 2010
East Lansing, Mich. - Michigan State's winless streak reached three games on Tuesday night, as the Spartans ended up on the short end of a 3-0 loss to Ferris State at Munn Ice Arena. Drew Palmisano was sharp throughout, but was outdone by Ferris State's Pat Nagle at the other end, as Nagle pitched a shutout and kept the Spartans off the board.
The game evolved as a goaltending duel, with each end making the necessary saves. FSU goalie Pat Nagle made 27 saves. Palmisano made 24 at his end and gave the Spartans a chance to win throughout.
Chad Billins got the visiting Bulldogs on the board first, scoring as the FSU power play expired. Mike Embach threw the puck back to Billins after his own shot was saved, and Billins got the score from the left hash mark. The goal was credited at 15:25. The Billins tally was the only one of the game in the first two periods.
The Spartans got a lift from a big save by Drew Palmisano in the third period. With MSU pressing in their zone, MSU was stripped of the puck in the high slot, and play turned the other way for a breakaway for FSU winger Mike Fillinger. Fillinger went low, blocker side on Palmisano, but the goalie came up with the leg-pad save to keep the Spartans within a goal.
A power play for the Spartans with nine minutes left in regulation saw MSU with some of its best chances of the night, but the Ferris State defense blocked shots and clogged passing lanes, and most importantly cleared loose pucks from the area around the goalmouth.
Ferris added the dagger with just 4:16 on the clock. Eric Alexander pounced on a loose puck in the right circle, and beat a screened Palmisano over his glove-hand shoulder. The goal came after an extended period of good pressure by the Spartans in their offensive zone.
Palmisano headed to the bench for the final 1:06 in favor of an extra skater. Torey Krug hit the post with 50 seconds remaining, and the rebound caromed out of the zone. It allowed enough time for Alexander to chase it down and get his second of the night into an empty net.
Michigan State will look to get back on the winning side of the ledger this weekend at the College Hockey Showcase. MSU will first play in Minneapolis against Minnesota, then will take on Wisconsin on Saturday night.
NOTES: Michigan State has lost three straight for the first time since this same week last year, when MSU dropped decisions to Notre Dame, Wisconsin, and Minnesota ... MSU went 0-for-4 on the power play, and Ferris State was 0-for-3 ...
