Michigan State University
4-8-2, 0-1-0-0B1G
Penn State
9-2-3, 1-0-0-0B1G
Spartans Drop Big Ten Opener at No. 19 Penn State
12/4/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pennsylvania - No. 19 Penn State broke open a scoreless game with four second-period goals and went on to defeat the Michigan State hockey team, 4-2, on Friday night in the Big Ten opener at Pegula Ice Arena in University Park, Pennsylvania. The Spartans (4-8-2, 0-1) pushed back in the third period and got goals from Thomas Ebbing and Ryan Keller, but it was too little, too late.
After a scoreless first period that featured few quality scoring chances either way, Penn State took command of the game in the second with four goals.
Andrew Sturtz put Penn State on the board 10 seconds into the second period with an unassisted goal off a turnover behind the MSU net. Spartan goaltender Jake Hildebrand went to play a dump-in behind the net and tried to move the puck to a defenseman, but it stuck on the freshly resurfaced ice and Sturtz was there to pick it up and tuck it in.
Three goals in a 4:11 span pushed the PSU lead to 4-0.David Goodwin made it 2-0 when he jabbed in a loose puck on the power play at 11:59; Sturtz scored his second of the game at 15:08 and Vince Pedrie made it 4-0 1:02 later.
"We didn't do a good job of taking the air out of that flurry of momentum and that was the game," said MSU head coach Tom Anastos.
Michigan State maintained its best offensive pressure in the third period, outshooting the Nittany Lions, 13-8. Ebbing was finally able to break through with 6:09 to play in the third, putting home a rebound past PSU goaltender Matthew Skoff. Linemates Joe Cox and JT Stenglein picked up assists on the goal that was Ebbing's third of the year.
Keller scored with a snap shot from the right circle from Matt DeBlouw and Cody Milan with 17 seconds to play, making the final score 4-2.
"I thought we competed better on pucks in the third period," said Anastos. "I thought our compete-level was much better."
Sophomore Ed Minney replaced Hildebrand to start the third period and turned away all eight shots he faced.
"I thought he played really well," said Anastos of Minney. "He looked very poised and the puck was hitting him. I thought he did a good job."
MSU went 0-for-1 on the man advantage, while Penn State went 1-for-5.
The Spartans and Nittany Lions will complete the two-game series on Saturday at 3 p.m. at Pegula Ice Arena.
