Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
U.S. National Development Program
Spartans Top USNTDP U-18 Team, 4-1
1/9/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
EAST LANSING - The Michigan State hockey team got goals from four different players in a 4-1 exhibition victory over the United States National Team Development Program Under-18 squad on Friday night at Munn Ice Arena. USNTDP alum Ed Minney played the second and third periods in goal for MSU and turned away 12 of 13 shots.
Ryan Keller and Dylan Pavelek both scored in the second period, while Joe Cox and Matt DeBlouw added empty-net goals in the final stages of the third.
"I was pleased to see the puck go in," said MSU head coach Tom Anastos. "I wasn't happy with our offensive effort in the first period, but I thought we were more tenacious in the second and third periods.
"It's a hard game to play because we're getting ready for the Big Ten and they're a talented team that comes in with nothing to lose. I thought our guys were very business-like in their approach, so that was a good thing."
After a scoreless opening stanza, Minney replaced starter Jake Hildebrand in goal for MSU to start the second period and stopped all six shots he faced.
Keller gave MSU a 1-0 lead at the 7:45 mark of the second period when he scored on a wrap around. With pressure in the USNTDP end, Thomas Ebbing swept the puck back to Carson Gatt at the left point, who flung it toward the net. The puck deflected behind the net where Keller swept it up and curled around the right post and tucked it in.
Like Minney, fellow USNTDP alum Pavelek also had a strong showing on Friday as he made it a 2-0 game in the final minute of the second period. Pavelek was sprung loose in the neutral zone with no one between him and goaltender Michael Lackey. Pavelek's wrister was stopped by Lackey, but he stayed with the play and then backhanded the rebound past the outstretched netminder to give MSU a two-goal advantage.
The Spartans put 19 shots on goal in the third period and almost added to their lead on several occasions in the first half of the the final stanza with chances by Cox and Villiam Haag from just off the crease that Lackey was able to turn away.
MSU eventually made it a 3-0 game with an empty-net goal by Cox with 1:28 to play.
The goal was the first of three in the final 88 seconds as USNTDP's Auston Matthews spoiled the Spartans' shutout bid when he beat Minney from the doorstep with 1:05 on the clock.
DeBlouw put the game away when his backhand clearing attempt from just over the Spartans' goal line found its way down the ice and into the open net to make it 4-1 with five seconds remaining.
The Spartans finished with a 35-21 edge in shots on goal and killed all three USNTDP power plays.
Gatt and forward Mackenzie MacEachern both had a pair of assists.
"Tonight should be a confidence boost for us to show that our game keeps getting better and it's something to build on each week," said Anastos.
MSU returns to Big Ten play next weekend when it travels to Penn State.
