Michigan State University
Lake Superior State
Spartans Blank Lakers, 4-0
1/14/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Jan. 14, 2011
Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. - Junior Brett Perlini scored twice in front of a hometown crowd as the Spartans scored all their goals in the final 15 minutes of regulation to post a 4-0 victory over Lake Superior State on Friday night. Freshman Will Yanakeff made 24 saves in his first collegiate shutout. Daultan Leveille and Dean Chelios had the other two Spartan markers, and Derek Grant had a pair of assists.
Perlini, who hails from Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, had his fourth two-goal game of the season for the Spartans, who are now 9-11-3 overall and 5-9-1 in CCHA games. MSU won for the third time in four games, its best stretch since a 3-0-3 start to the season back in October.
All the scoring in the game came in the final period. Daultan Leveille got the game's first goal at 5:45 of the third, netting his sixth goal of the season. On the power play, the Spartans were re-entering the zone at the right point, and Leveille freed the puck from the wall, skated into the high slot, and shot high over the glove hand of goalie Kevin Kapalka.
The Spartans had an emphasis on traffic in front, which blew open the game shortly after the midpoint. Dean Chelios doubled the lead at 12:53; Greg Wolfe made a great play to keep the puck deep in the zone, and it laid in front of the crease for Chelios. A minute later, Perlini gave the Spartans a 3-1 lead, putting back a loose puck at the right post. Dustin Gazley and Derek Grant assisted on the play. Perlini netted his second of the night at 15:50, with some impressive stickwork in front of the crease.
Each goal appeared to give the Spartans more life, and MSU buzzed the offensive zone for extended periods over the balance of the game. MSU outshot its opponent by a 31-24 margin; MSU went 1-for-3 on the power play, and the Lakers were 0-for-2.
The teams will wrap up this series on Saturday at Taffy Abel Arena at 7:05 p.m.
NOTES: Michigan State and Lake Superior skated through a scoreless first period, the third straight game that the Spartans entered the first intermission engaged in a 0-0 deadlock ... Brett Perlini had his fourth two-goal game of the season ... Will Yanakeff has won three straight starts ... MSU is 6-1-2 when scoring four goals or more this season ... The Spartans have recorded two shutouts this season, and both were 4-0 scores (the first came against Ohio State on Nov. 13). The Spartans played through a scoreless regulation with Ferris State on Dec. 4, but lost on a fluky overtime tally ... Daultan Leveille has had the game-winning goal in each of the last two Spartan victories ...
