Spartans Blank Ferris State, 2-0; Advance to GLI Championship

Dec. 28, 2014

DETROIT - The Michigan State hockey team took down Ferris State in the semifinals of the 50th annual Great Lakes Invitational at Joe Louis Arena Sunday evening by a score of 2-0. Brent Darnell scored the game-winning goal 3:35 into the second period and goaltender Jake Hildebrand made 31 saves for the Spartans to earn his first shutout of the year and fifth of his career.

The Spartans (7-9-1) will meet Michigan on Monday night at 7 p.m. in the GLI title game.

"I thought we played really well together," MSU head coach Tom Anastos said. "Hildy had a really good game and it was a good defensive effort. Brent Darnell made a nice play to get that game-winning goal."

With the game scoreless early in the second period, the Spartans created a quality chance when defenseman Travis Walsh blasted a shot off the crossbar. Moments later, Darnell worked his way into the FSU zone, toe-dragged the puck into the high slot and fired a shot over the glove of goaltender C.J. Motte, to make it 1-0. The goal was Darnell's fourth of the season and third in his last three games.

"Their defensemen backed off a little so I had some time and I just pulled up and tried to get it on net," Darnell said.

Michigan State killed a pair of FSU power plays in the first half of the third period and Thomas Ebbing added an empty net goal with 58 seconds remaining in the game to secure the 2-0 win for the Spartans.

The Spartans killed all four Bulldog power plays in the game.

"Our penalty kill was obviously an important part of our game tonight," Anastos said.

Hildebrand made nine stops in the first period, 10 in the second and then 12 in the third.

"I thought I tracked the puck well," Hildebrand said. "That's not just me, that's the entire defense clearing guys out in front and picking up sticks; making my job easy by keeping shots out on the perimeter."

The Spartans aided Hildebrand with 20 blocked shots - their second-highest total this season.

"Those are huge. (Blocked shots) take so much pressure off me," Hildebrand said. "When guys do things like that, I want to do everything I can to keep the puck out of the net."

Monday's tournament championship game will mark the 300th meeting between Michigan State and Michigan.

"In the 50th year of this event and, in my opinion, playing in the best rivalry in our sport, how does it get any better than that," Anastos said.