Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
3-2
Lake Superior State
1-4-2
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Superior State | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Michigan State | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
Spartans Hang On To Top Lakers, 4-3
10/27/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
EAST LANSING - The Michigan State hockey team edged Lake Superior State, 4-3, on Friday night at Munn Ice Arena to improve to 3-2 overall and remain unbeaten at home. Eight different players picked up a point for the Spartans, led by Logan Lambdin who had a goal and an assist.
Lambdin gave the Spartans a 4-0 lead early in the third, but three straight goals by the Lakers closed the gap in a hurry. Michigan State didn't let the Lakers tie it up, keeping LSSU from getting any quality chances over the final minutes.
"We're going to find ourselves in situations like tonight and I'd rather be battling at the end of the game protecting a lead than trying to tie it up," said MSU head coach Danton Cole. "The guys did a good job the last five or six minutes."
The Spartans dominated the opening period, outshooting the Lakers, 15-4. Sam Saliba eventually got MSU on the board with 4:43 to play in the period when he slid a pass from Carson Gatt past LSSU netminder Nick Kossoff.
The Lakers, which came into the game converting 35% of their power plays, had consecutive attempts on the man-advantage early in the second. However, the Spartans snuffed out both power play opportunities and less than three minutes after the second penalty expired, Patrick Khodorenko pushed the MSU lead to 2-0.
In a play that developed deep in the MSU end, Mitchell Lewandowski and Taro Hirose got the puck to Khodorenko inside the Laker end and he let a snap shot go from the right circle that squeezed past Kossoff.
Michigan State made it 3-0 with 3:08 to go in the second period courtesy of Jake Smith. Smith forced a turnover in the Laker end, got the puck in the slot and ripped a high shot into the top corner for his first career goal.
"Smitty has a great shot and we see it quite a bit in practice. That was a great shot," said Cole.
Lambdin made it 4-0 1:19 into to the third off assists from Cody Milan and Tommy Miller. The assist was the first point of Miller's career.
The Laker push back started 36 seconds after the Lambdin goal. Brayden Gelsinger got the first at the 1:55 mark and Bryan Basilico made it a two-goal game on the power play at 3:49.
Max Humitz got another on the power play with 6:46 to play to make it a one-goal game.
The Spartans finished with a season-high 41 shots on goal.
MSU netminder John Lethemon finished with 19 saves to earn his third win of the year.
The Spartans and Lakers will meet again on Saturday at 7:05 p.m.
