Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
4-8-1, 0-2B1G
Minnesota
9-5-2, 3-1B1G
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Michigan State | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
Spartans Drop Series Finale to No. 11 Minnesota
12/11/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
EAST LANSING - The Michigan State hockey team dropped the second game of its conference-opening series, falling to 11th-ranked Minnesota, 4-2, on Saturday night at Munn Ice Arena. Minnesota scored four unanswered goals to erase an early Spartan lead, the third of which came on the power play and broke a 2-2 tie with 8:46 to play in the third.
"I thought we rebounded tonight but just did not have the ability to execute at key times that we needed," MSU head coach Tom Anastos said.
Like Friday night, JT Stenglein got the first goal of the game to give the Spartans a 1-0 lead, getting his second of the season 16:09 into Saturday's contest.
Stenglein was the eventual recipient of his hard work in the offensive zone as he took a hit in the left corner to keep the play alive, getting the puck back to Jerad Rosburg at the left point. Rosburg flung the puck cross ice to Mitch Eliot, who let a shot go toward the net. With Stenglein back positioned in front of the net, he was able to get just enough of Eliot's shot to redirect it through goaltender Eric Schierhorn's legs.
The Spartans (4-8-1, 0-2) built their lead to 2-0 just over six minutes into the second as Joe Cox and Thomas Ebbing teamed up on an odd-man rush.
A check by Cox forced a turnover in the neutral zone and the senior captain picked up the loose puck and headed into the offensive zone. With Stenglein driving the net on the left side, Cox dished the puck to a trailing Ebbing, who wasted no time with the pass, ripping a shot over the glove of Schierhorn to make it 2-0
Minnesota (9-5-2, 3-1) pushed back to make it 2-1, 10:03 into the second when Jake Bischoff intercepted a clearing attempt inside the blue line on the left side and snapped the puck past Ed Minney.
The Gophers nearly tied the game two minutes later, but a clear off the goal line by Sam Saliba kept it a 2-1 game. Saliba's effort denied what looked to be a sure goal, but he was whistled for delay of game on the play as the net was jarred loose.
Minnesota capitalized on the ensuing power play on a one-timer by Rem Pitlick from the right circle to tie the game.
With the game still 2-2 midway through the third, a Spartan penalty gave Minnesota its third power play of the night and Brent Gates Jr., put home a pass from Leon Bristedt to give the Gophers their first lead, 3-2.
"They're a good team and we didn't make plays down the stretch to either win the game or get back into the game," Anastos said. "They took advantage on special teams and beat us in special teams and that became the difference in the game.
"Last night we shut down their power play, tonight we didn't."
Tyler Sheehy added an empty-net goal with 37 seconds to play to seal the Minnesota win.
Minney finished with 30 saves -- his fourth consecutive game with at least 30 saves.
"I liked a lot about his game this weekend," Anastos said.
The Spartans will play their last game before Christmas next Sunday (Dec. 18) when they host Northeastern at 3 p.m. at Munn.
