Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
4-2
Lake Superior State
1-5-2
Spartans Sweep LSSU With 6-0 Shutout
10/28/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
EAST LANSING - The Michigan State hockey team completed a weekend sweep of Lake Superior State with a 6-0 win on Saturday night at Munn Ice Arena. The Spartans put the game out of reach with a four-goal second period, while John Lethemon made 15 saves for his second career shutout as MSU improved to 4-2.
Five different Spartans recorded a pair of points, including Mitchell Lewandowski (2g), Dylan Pavelek (2a), Taro Hirose (2a), Cody Milan (2a) and Mitch Eliot (1g, 1a).
Lewandowski got the Spartans on the board with 1:27 to go in the first period, netting the first of three Spartan power-play goals on the night.
The Spartans' four-goal, second period barrage began at the 6:20 mark when Brennan Sanford got his first of the year on a delayed LSSU penalty. Eliot got Sanford the puck on the right side in the Laker end where he let go a low wrist that got past LSSU goaltender Mareks Mitens.
Eliot found the back of the net for the first time in his career just 1:31 later. Taking pass from Sam Saliba, Eliot ripped a shot from the right circle to make it 3-0.
Jake Smith got his second goal in two nights with 4:25 to go in the second. Smith followed up a shot by Gianluca Esteves by going to the top of the crease and swiping the rebound into a nearly open net.
Lewandowski got his second of the game on the power play with 22 seconds to play in the middle period. After a shot by Cody Milan deflected high off the glass behind the net, the puck bounced back into the low slot where Lewandowski batted it out of the air and into the net.
The Spartans finished with a 16-1 edge in shots on goal in a dominating second period.
"I told them I didn't like the first period very much, but we defended well and worked hard," said MSU head coach Danton Cole. "They really buckled down in the second. I think the shots were 16-1, so I thought they did an excellent job and that makes you feel good. You're always going to have those ups and downs during a game and you try to ride out through the bad parts and we were able to do that tonight."
David Keefer became the second Spartan to net his first-career goal on Saturday night as he scored on the power play with 4:40 to play in the third to make it 6-0. Keefer got the puck in the low slot and ripped a shot just under the crossbar.
The Spartans finished 3-for-7 on the power play, while holding LSSU to 0-for-4.
Michigan State hits the road next weekend to begin Big Ten play at No. 7 Minnesota.
