Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
6-17-2, 2-7-0-0B1G
Ohio State
7-14-2, 2-5-2-1B1G
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan State | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Ohio State | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
Spartans Stop Buckeyes, 4-2
1/29/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Michigan State hockey team took an early lead and never trailed as it topped Ohio State, 4-2, at Value City Arena on Friday night. Dylan Pavelek, Michael Ferrantino, Brennan Sanford and Mackenzie MacEachern all scored for the Spartans, while Jake Hildebrand made 19 saves.
Pavelek got the scoring started for Michigan State 3:02 into the first. The sophomore winger took the puck from Joe Cox in the low slot, moved to the right and slid the puck along the ice -- off an OSU defenseman's skate - and past goaltender Christian Frey for his second goal of the season.
Good forchecking and a turnover led to the Spartans' second goal at the 10:40 mark of the first.
After hitting the post the first of two times in the game, MacEachern forced a turnover along the right boards in the OSU zone. MacEachern won control of the puck and slid it to Ferrantino, who walked in from the right side of the slot and snapped a perfect shot over the shoulder of Frey.
"Playing from out front certainly helps you build a little bit of confidence. I thought that was an important part of the game tonight," said MSU head coach Tom Anastos.
Hildebrand made a pair of saves on pointblank opportunities by the Buckeyes from the low slot in the opening period. But the Buckeyes were able to get on the board with 2:15 to play in the first period when Nick Schilkey's wrister from the top of the circle off a faceoff beat the goaltender and made it a 2-1 game.
The Spartans (6-17-2, 2-7) dominated the second period, outshooting the Buckeyes 14-5 in the frame. MSU pressured the Buckeyes in their own zone for long stretches in the period and even had a pair of breakaways by Ferrantino later Cody Milan, all thwarted by Frey. It looked like the Buckeyes would weather the Spartan storm, but with 2:17 to play in the period, Sanford got his stick on a loose puck in front of the OSU net and swept it in to bump the MSU lead to 3-1.
Connor Wood and Hildebrand both picked up assists on Sanford's goal.
"We wanted to continue to stay on the offensive in that second period," said Anastos. "When we got out of that period with as many good opportunities as we had and weren't able to score a few more goals, that concerned me some, because I knew we'd get a real press from them in the third, which we did."
Ohio State made it a one-goal game 3:07 into the third period on a goal by Mason Jobst.
The Buckeyes (7-14-2, 2-5-2-1) nearly pulled even minutes later on the power play when Dakota Joshua found himself all alone in the slot, but Hildebrand made a nice glove save to keep the score 3-2.
The Spartans pushed back and generated some scoring chances of their own following the OSU power play and MacEachern almost made it 4-2 with a snap shot that rang off the crossbar.
MacEachern later iced the game for the Spartans with an empty-netter with 1:10 to play.
The Spartans finished the game with a 29-21 edge in shots on goal.
"I thought we played some good hockey last weekend, so that was a small step," said Anastos. "I thought we had two really good weeks of practice, so I thought we came here in a pretty good state of mind. I really like how we played for the most part. I think it's something to build off."
The two teams will meet again on Saturday at 7 p.m.
