Michigan State University
7-7-6
Northern Michigan
5-13-2
Northern Michigan Tops Spartans in OT, 2-1
12/30/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
DETROIT - Robbie Payne's goal at 3:38 of overtime gave the Northern Michigan Wildcats a 2-1 win over the Michigan State hockey team in the third-place game of the Great Lakes Invitational on Wednesday at Joe Louis Arena. Joe Cox scored for the Spartans, while Jake Hildebrand made 18 saves.
The Wildcats tied the game with 4:15 to play in the third period and then won it in the extra session when Payne's shot from the slot sailed past Hildebrand.
"It's a tough way to start the second half of the season," said MSU head coach Tom Anastos. "I think the world of our guys in the locker room and if there's any group that's going to keep digging and grinding, it's this group."
Cox gave the Spartans (5-13-2) an early 1-0 lead just 1:06 into the game. After a shot from the left point by Travis Walsh got knocked down, Cox grabbed the puck just off the right side of the crease, spun and fired it past the stretched out NMU goaltender Mathias Israelsson.
Walsh and Michael Ferrantino both picked up assists on the Cox goal.
Hildebrand was called on just six times on the opening period but made two big stops in a 30-second span near the midway point of the frame, first turning away NMU's Dominik Shine on a breakaway with his glove and then stuffing Cohen Adair from in close.
Both teams traded a handful of quality chances in the second period and Hildebrand's best stop came when he again stoned Shine on a breakaway.
Michigan State had a pair of prime opportunities to add to its lead a minute apart past the midway point of the third period, but Israelsson stopped both chances â€" a shot from the low slot by Villiam Haag and then a one-timer by Mackenzie MacEachern.
MSU killed two consecutive penalties early in the third period, but the Wildcats finally converted with 4:15 to go when Shine scored to knot the game, 1-1.
"You can't keep going to the well (on the penalty kill), because when that happens the same guys are playing and you're wearing them down and more than anything, you're taking away momentum from your side and giving them an opportunity," said Anastos. "Those are things we can't continue to see happen if we want our fortunes to change."
MSU went 0-for-3 on the power play, while NMU went 1-for-5.
Israelsson finished with 24 saves for the Wildcats (7-7-6).
The Spartans will be back in action Jan. 8-9 when they meet Michigan in a home-and-home series. The Jan. 8 game will be played at 6:30 p.m. at Munn Ice Arena.
