Icers Tripped at Ohio State

Feb. 5, 2011

Columbus, Ohio - Michigan State staged a late rally, but it ultimately fell short as Ohio State earned a split of the weekend series with a 4-2 victory over the Spartans on Saturday evening in Columbus. Dean Chelios and Dustin Gazley had the MSU goals, while freshman Will Yanakeff made 35 saves.

Box Score
Video Highlights

"We had some chances tonight, and the third period was our best period - we had some really good chances to tie the game late," said head coach Rick Comley. "We didn't have much luck on the special teams, but credit to Ohio State for that."

All of Ohio State's goals tonight came in situations other than five-on-five - two came with an extra attacker for the Spartans, one was on the power play, and one shorthanded. The Spartans were 0-for-5 on the man advantage tonight and 0-for-9 in the series.

Michigan State got on the board early, as Dean Chelios jumped on a loose puck at the left side of the cage and netted a sharp-angle shot for his fifth goal of the season. Zach Golembiewski got the helper on the goal.

The Buckeyes got their first goal of the series just under two minutes into the second period. Matt Grassi was sent to the box for tripping, giving OSU their second power-play chance of the night. Sergio Somma's shot from the right circle ricocheted off at least two players en route, beating Yanakeff glove-side.

Michigan State's first power-play chance of the night resulted in a shorthanded tally for the home team. John Albert carried the puck up the right side and dished to CJ Severyn in the slot, and his backhand shot beat Yanakeff beneath his blocker.

The third period began with OSU taking a two-goal lead at 4:05. On a delayed penalty, Somma was able to get the puck through bodies in front for his second goal of the night and his 15th of the season. At 7:29, MSU cut the Buckeye lead in half with an unassisted tally by alternate captain Dustin Gazley. Two OSU players collided at the red line, leaving a loose puck for Gazley. The speedy winger pounced on the puck and went in hard, deking around to the left around Heeter then bringing it back to the right side. It was Gazley's 10th of the season.

The Spartans had a power play in the final three minutes, and had some good chances in those waning minutes both with a man advantage and with Yanakeff pulled for an extra skater in the final minute. The Buckeyes got the insurance empty-netter from Cory Schneider to seal the victory, their first in five games.

Will Yanakeff had 35 saves, but suffered his first loss since Nov. 20 and falls to 5-2-1.

The Spartans return home to host Northern Michigan next weekend at Munn Ice Arena.

NOTES:

MSU is now 10-4-3 when scoring first this season ... The Spartans are 0-11-1 when trailing after two, but did pull within a goal when trailing by two ... Dustin Gazley's 10th goal of the season in the third period is his career best. He had nine goals as a junior ... Dean Chelios' fifth goal of the season in the first period betters his freshman year total of four ...