Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
6-5
Ferris State
5-7-1
Spartans Get Past Ferris State in Overtime, 3-2
11/17/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
EAST LANSING - Taro Hirose's goal 1:13 into overtime lifted the Michigan State hockey team past Ferris State, 3-2, on Friday night at Munn Ice Arena. Mitchell Lewandowski had two goals and picked up an assist on Hirose's winner.
Lewandowski and linemate Patrick Khodorenko worked to get the puck to Hirose, who was positioned just off the goal line in the left corner. With nearly an impossible angle, Hirose let the puck go and it sailed past FSU goaltender Darren Smith and into the upper far corner to give MSU the win.
John Lethemon made 27 saves for MSU, which improved to 6-5.
The Spartans built a 2-0 lead with a pair of second period goals by Lewandowski, but a Ferris State goal late in the middle stanza gave the Bulldogs life heading into the third.
Ryker Killins tied the game with 4:24 to play in the third, ultimately forcing overtime.
"It was obviously and interesting game with some serious ups and downs," said MSU head coach Danton Cole. "I thought we did a good job for the first 35 minutes and then the tide really turned. I give Ferris a lot of credit."
After a scoreless first period where the Spartans outshot the Bulldogs, 13-4, Lewandowski broke the stalemate 3:17 into the second. Carson Gatt intercepted the puck in the neutral zone and spotted Lewandowski, who had just jumped on the ice. Lewandowski cruised in and let a wrister go that found the bottom corner of the net.
Lewandowski got his second to make it 2-0 at the 9:15 mark. Hirose created a turnover, causing a 2-on-1, and fed the puck to Lewandowski, who ripped a shot past Bulldog goaltender Darren Smith from the left side for his eighth goal of the season.
It was a turnover that led to Ferris State (5-7-1) cutting the deficit to 2-1 in the final minute of the period. Mitch Maloney got ahold of the puck in the MSU end and carried it all the way into MSU territory where he let a shot go from the left circle that found the net with 26 seconds to go in the period.
The Spartans killed a pair of penalties in the third, but Killins eventually tied the game with 4:24 to go.
Lethemon made 13 saves in the third period as FSU outshot MSU 14-6 in the stanza.
"John was really good and we were kind of lucky to get it to overtime, so give him credit for that," Cole said.
The Spartans' third shot of overtime proved to be the final shot of the game.
"Overtimes, that's the way they are, there's one play," Cole said. "I thought we were a little better at that point.
"There were a lot of lessons for the young guys and how you have to keep playing and how you have to do things the right way and if you cheat the game, it bites you. Fortunately tonight we could learn some lessons through winning and we'll move forward and try to bet better tomorrow."
The Spartans and Bulldogs will complete the weekend series on Saturday in Big Rapids at 7 p.m.
