Michigan State University
0-4-0
Denver
4-2-0
Spartans Drop 3-1 Contest To No. 6 Denver
10/22/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Denver's Troy Terry scored two goals in the first period â€" one that everybody saw and one that most people didn't see because it went through the net â€" and the Pioneers held off a late Michigan State surge to claim a 3-1 victory on Saturday at Munn Arena and a sweep of the non-conference series.
The Spartans cut DU's lead to 2-1 on sophomore right wing Mason Appleton's first goal of the season at 4:01 of the third period and had few good chances to tie it late in the period but they couldn't solve Pioneers junior goalie Tanner Jaillet.
With freshman goalie John Lethemon pulled for a sixth attacker, Denver sealed the victory with an empty-net goal by senior center Matt Marcinew with 1:04 left.
The Pioneers won the series opener, 2-1, on Friday night.
For the second straight game, Michigan State (0-4) displayed a good compete level, got solid goaltending and stayed in the game right to the end against the No. 6-ranked Pioneers (4-2). But the Spartans failed to hit the net on several scoring attempts and didn't test Jaillet with many close-in chances.
"I think our scoring is going to come but it's not going to come until we give the puck more of an opportunity to go in,'' MSU coach Tom Anastos said. "We have to hit the net and create traffic.
"In the second period, we had a series (three) of power plays and we gave them the momentum instead of us taking it. We had 14 shot attempts and 10 missed the net. That's not going to give you a good chance to score goals. And we had some good opportunities. We have to become a better team at hitting the net.''
MSU failed to convert on six power-play opportunities. The Pioneers had only one power play and didn't score.
Lethemon's play in goal was one of the Spartans' bright spots. Despite giving up two goals in the first period, he made several big saves to keep his team in the game. He made 23 saves, including a nifty breakaway stop on Terry in the second period, stifling the sophomore right wing's bid for a hat trick.
"It was a good performance (by Lethemon) and that should give him some confidence,'' Anastos said. "He had to get over those two goals in the first period. To give up a goal early and coming off his last game (at Lake Superior State last Saturday), then the second goal, but he battled back and saw the puck well, played it well and made some big saves.''
"Getting good effort out of both (goalies) this weekend is a real positive.''
Junior Ed Minney made 24 saves in a solid effort I Friday's 2-1 loss.
Denver took a 1-0 lead at 4:51 of the first period when Terry found a loose puck in the left circle and spun around and just let go with a shot. It found the lower left corner.
The Pioneers went up 2-0 at 15:48 off a hard shot by Terry that went over Lethemon's right shoulder and through the net and back into play. But the goal light never went on and the officials weren't sure the puck went in. The play continued for 38 seconds until there was a stoppage.
The referees went to a video review, and after long delay they ruled that the puck went in the net under the crossbar and through the netting. Many fans didn't know a goal had been awarded until after play resumed.
Anastos said he didn't get a look at Terry's shot but the feeling on the bench was that the puck did go in the net.
After a scoreless second period, MSU got back into the game early in the third period when Appleton's shot from the top of the left circle beat Jaillet and gave the Spartans some hope. But the Pioneers didn't sit back and played solidly and with lots of energy the rest of the way.
"These were fast games. Denver plays at a fast pace and they really transition the puck quickly,'' Anastos said. "They don't give you much time. I give them tons of credit. They play a lot like I'd love to play. It's a very high tempo, it's in your face and forcing you to make plays under pressure constantly.'' In the two games against the Pioneers, Anastos said he was encouraged by his team's development and progress.
"I saw parts of our game that had lots of growth. I saw the game of many individual players really grow'' he said. "Our guys are understanding to a better degree of what we're asking them to do. But our level of execution has to take a big step in a lot of areas.
"There are lot of lessons to be learned but I hate learning them through losing.
The Spartans continue their non-conference part of their schedule with one game against Princeton next weekend â€" at 7 p.m. Friday at Munn Arena.
