Michigan State University
9-21-3, 5-11-1
Minnesota
18-14, 13-4
No. 17 Minnesota Slips Past MSU
3/4/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
EAST LANSING - Michigan State and No. 17 Minnesota played an even game for much of the night on Friday at Munn Ice Arena, but a rebound goal by the Gophers' Tommy Novak with 7:09 to play in the third period snapped a 2-2 tie and proved to the be the game-winner. Minnesota (18-14, 13-4) added an empty-net goal in the waning seconds to make the final score 4-2.
Matt DeBlouw and Mackenzie MacEachern scored for the Spartans (9-21-3, 5-11-1).
"We didn't make enough plays to win the game tonight. I thought we made a lot of good plays, but they generated the puck-luck they needed in certain situations and finished their opportunities," said MSU head coach Tom Anastos.
The Spartans grabbed an early lead as DeBlouw made it 1-0 3:44 into the opening period.
JT Stenglein forced a turnover deep in the Gopher end and got off a backhand shot from the left circle. Minnesota goaltender Eric Schierhorn got a piece of the shot, knocking it to his left where DeBlouw scooped up the puck and rifled it high into the net for his third goal in his last three games.
The two teams played an up-tempo first period following the MSU goal, playing over seven and a half minutes without a whistle. Unfortunately for the Spartans, it was a Minnesota goal that finally stopped play as Jack Glover slid a rebound past Jake Hildebrand with 3:44 to go in the period to make it 1-1.
Minnesota claimed its first lead of the night 7:46 into the second period on a shot through traffic by Michael Brodzinski that grazed Taylor Cammarata in front and then went and past Hildebrand. But the Spartans responded just 41 seconds later to again make it tie game.
Upon getting the puck from Joe Cox near the Gopher blue line, MacEachern ripped a shot from the right side and then retrieved the rebound in the corner. MacEachern then hung on to the puck untouched for nearly 10 seconds before wristing shot from the right circle that beat Schierhorn just under the crossbar to tie the game, 2-2, with 11:33 to play in the middle stanza.
MacEachern nearly reclaimed the lead for MSU early in the third period when he raced in all alone on Shierhorn while shorthanded, but the goaltender stopped his five-hole attempt.
DeBlouw had two prime chances as the third period progressed, hitting the post twice. The latter of which was a snap shot from the low slot on the power play that beat Shierhorn, but clanked off the right post.
"A couple of those go in the net and it can change the momentum of the game," said Anastos.
Despite all the pressure from the Spartans, it was Minnesota that snapped the 2-2 tie when Novak found a loose puck and put it past Hildebrand from the top the crease with 7:09 to go.
The Spartans pressured the Gophers in the closing minutes, but couldn't solve Schierhorn one more time.
Glover sealed the game with an empty-net goal.
"It was a game where you had to be patient and make plays at key times; they made one more than we did to pull ahead," said Anastos.
The Spartans and Gophers will meet again on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Munn Ice Arena.
