Michigan State University
5-12-2 (1-3-0-0)
Michigan Tech
11-6-2 (10-6-1)
Spartans Clipped in OT of GLI Semifinals
12/29/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
DETROIT - The Michigan State hockey team fell short of reaching the Great Lakes Invitational title game as Michigan Tech topped the Spartans, 3-2, in overtime in the semifinals on Tuesday at Joe Louis Arena. MTU's Brent Baltus scored the game-winner at 3:58 of overtime to send the Huskies into Wednesday's title game. MSU will take on either Northern Michigan or Michigan in the consolation game at 3:30 p.m.
The Spartans took a 2-0 lead into the third period on goals by Matt DeBlouw and Mackenzie MacEachern, but the Huskies cut the lead in half prior to the midway point of the frame and then tied it with 1:26 to play.
Baltus won the game for Michigan Tech with a rising shot from the left side off a 2-on-2 that beat MSU goaltender Jake Hildebrand up high with 1:02 remaining in overtime.
"It was a hard-played game," said MSU head coach Tom Anastos. "Our team is obviously disappointed with how the game played out.
"I'd be lying if I said it wasn't very frustrating. I thought we did a lot of good things, especially coming off a break."
The Spartans grabbed a 1-0 lead just over five minutes into the opening period with the help of a nice defensive play in the neutral zone by Rhett Holland that led to an odd-man rush. Holland forced a Huskie turnover at the red line and pushed the puck ahead to JT Stenglein. Stenglein broke into the MTU zone and fired a shot from the right circle that MTU goaltender Jamie Phillips kicked out, but DeBlouw was charging the crease and the puck bounced off his skate and into the net.
MSU was tested early in the second period when a pair of penalties 24 seconds apart gave the Huskies a two-man advantage for 1:36. Aided by two key stops from Hildebrand as well as several blocked shots, the Spartans killed both penalties and then another just over a minute later.
After extinguishing three consecutive penalties, the Spartans capitalized on their own man-advantage to push their lead to 2-0. With Mark Auk off for hooking at 12:43, the Spartans cashed-in when MacEachern put home a rebound.
Michael Ferrantino's shot from the slot bounced off Phillips and right to MacEachern in the middle of the right circle where he one-timed it into the net 18 seconds into the power play for his eighth goal of the season.
Michigan Tech made it a one-goal game with 11:14 to play in the third period. A collision in front knocked Hildebrand to the ice and Alex Gillies was able to swipe the loose puck into the net.
The Huskies tied it up with 1:26 to play when Jake Lucchini beat Hildebrand from the slot.
Hildebrand finished the game with 33 saves, including one spectacular stop early in the second period that saw him lose his stick and dive across the crease to rob Tyler Heinonen with his glove.
"I thought Hildy was on his game tonight; I thought he played well," said Anastos.
The Spartans killed all four MTU power plays in the game while going 1-for-4 on the man-advantage.
