Michigan State University
2-3-1
Lake Superior State
2-4
Spartans, Hildebrand Blank LSSU, 2-0
10/23/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
EAST LANSING - Jake Hildebrand made 21 saves while JT Stenglein and Thomas Ebbing both had a goal and an assist as the Michigan State hockey team (2-3-1) defeated Lake Superior State, 2-0, on Friday night at Munn Ice Arena. The shutout was the 11th of Hildebrand's career.
"It was a way better performance tonight. I thought we settled down and executed much better," said MSU head coach Tom Anastos. "I'd like to see the puck go in the net a little bit more, but it was a very good defensive effort."
Stenglein got MSU on the board first, scoring what proved to be the difference maker with 20 seconds remaining in the opening period.
Joe Cox started the play by pressuring the Laker defense into a turnover and Ebbing kept the puck in the zone along the right wall. Ebbing got the puck to Stenglein in the low slot, who made a move around one defenseman and then deked LSSU net minder Nick Kossoff and scored on his backhand for his third goal of the season.
"That was a big goal at a key part of the game," said Anastos.
The Spartans upped their lead to 2-0 with another late goal, scoring with 1:12 to play in the second. After winning a faceoff in the LSSU end, Ebbing went to the front of the net and got a piece of a point shot by Rhett Holland, directing the puck past Kossoff and just far enough across the goal line.
Hildebrand made several quality saves, including one on a rebound off an odd-man rush in the final minutes of the opening period. He made 10 stops in the first period and 11 over the final 40 minutes.
The Spartans killed all three Laker power plays in the game.
The Spartans will be off next weekend and will return to action at home, Nov. 6-7, against New Hampshire.
