Sunday, December 20
Notre Dame, Ind.
5 P.M. ET
Michigan State University
3-3-2, 2-3-1-2-0-0 B
4
at
3
Notre Dame
4-5-1, 3-4-1-0-1-1 B
1
2
3
OT 1
F
Michigan State
1
1
1
1
4
Notre Dame
1
0
2
0
3
Miller’s OT Goal Lifts Spartans Past No. 16 Notre Dame
12/20/2020 8:53:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
NOTRE DAME, Indiana – Tommy Miller's goal 1:26 into overtime gave the Michigan State hockey team a 4-3 win over No. 16 Notre Dame on Sunday night at Compton Family Ice Arena. Tommy Apap scored the tying goal with 22.8 seconds to play in the third period, while goaltender Drew DeRidder made 42 saves for the Spartans (3-3-2, 2-3-1-2-0-0) in what was their final game before the winter break.
"It was an interesting game, but when you come out of a game like that on the plus side there are definitely some positives," MSU head coach Danton Cole said. "Our guys battled incredibly hard. We found ourselves down 2-1, getting drastically outshot, then all of a sudden, we're down 3-2. I love the reaction and composure of our guys, they never stopped battling and getting after it.
"It was a lot of fun. It was great to come back and win that way. Hopefully we'll learn some things from the victory and getting a little rest now and get ready for a second half run."
The Spartans took a 2-1 lead into the third period, but two Notre Dame goals in less than five minutes put the Fighting Irish up, 3-2.
MSU was held to eight shots through two periods but outshot the Irish 18-14 in the third. With the MSU net empty and an extra attacker on the ice, the Spartans tied it off a deflection by Apap. As Josh Nodler's shot from the left circle sailed toward the net, Apap was able to get a piece of the puck, redirecting it past goaltender Ryan Bischel with 22.8 seconds on the clock.
The winning goal in the 3-on-3 overtime came when Nico Müller forced a turnover in the MSU end and pushed the puck to Miller. Miller raced up the left side, toe-dragged around the last Notre Dame player, then pulled the puck across the crease and tucked it past an outstretched Bischel.
The goal was Miller's first of the season and his second point of the game, as he also picked up an assist on Apap's tying goal.
Notre Dame grabbed a 1-0 lead 1:13 into the opening period when a rebound off a shot from the left corner popped out to Graham Slaggert, who was all alone in the right circle and got a low shot past DeRidder.
Michigan State pulled even 2:13 later when a bouncing puck went off Charlie Combs and into the UND net. Powell Connor fired a shot that rebounded off Bischel and into the slot where Nodler threw it back toward the net. The puck bounced high and then off Combs, who was pushed into the crease, and across the goal line.
A night after extinguishing all four Notre Dame power plays, the Spartans were put to the test again in the first period on Sunday. Seven combined penalties between the teams, including a 5-minute major assessed to the Spartans, led to three Notre Dame power plays – all extinguished by the Spartans.
The Spartans killed another UND power play in the third period and snuffed out all four Irish power plays for the second straight night.
The Spartans took the lead, 2-1, when Mitchell Lewandowski scored 4:48 into the second period.
Dennis Cesana picked up the puck deep in the MSU end and carried it all the way into UND territory where he set up Lewandowski, who gave a pass to Müller. Müller fanned on the initial shot, but got the puck back to Lewandowski, whose low shot slid under the left pad of Bischel.
Notre Dame made it a 2-2- game at the 4:45 mark of the third when Grant Silianoff scored from just off the left side of the crease.
Michael Graham gave the Irish a 3-2 lead at 9:37 of the third.
Notre Dame finished with a 45-28 edge in shots on goal.
Michigan State returns to action Jan. 3-4, 2021 when it hosts Penn State at Munn Ice Arena.
"It was an interesting game, but when you come out of a game like that on the plus side there are definitely some positives," MSU head coach Danton Cole said. "Our guys battled incredibly hard. We found ourselves down 2-1, getting drastically outshot, then all of a sudden, we're down 3-2. I love the reaction and composure of our guys, they never stopped battling and getting after it.
"It was a lot of fun. It was great to come back and win that way. Hopefully we'll learn some things from the victory and getting a little rest now and get ready for a second half run."
The Spartans took a 2-1 lead into the third period, but two Notre Dame goals in less than five minutes put the Fighting Irish up, 3-2.
MSU was held to eight shots through two periods but outshot the Irish 18-14 in the third. With the MSU net empty and an extra attacker on the ice, the Spartans tied it off a deflection by Apap. As Josh Nodler's shot from the left circle sailed toward the net, Apap was able to get a piece of the puck, redirecting it past goaltender Ryan Bischel with 22.8 seconds on the clock.
The winning goal in the 3-on-3 overtime came when Nico Müller forced a turnover in the MSU end and pushed the puck to Miller. Miller raced up the left side, toe-dragged around the last Notre Dame player, then pulled the puck across the crease and tucked it past an outstretched Bischel.
The goal was Miller's first of the season and his second point of the game, as he also picked up an assist on Apap's tying goal.
Notre Dame grabbed a 1-0 lead 1:13 into the opening period when a rebound off a shot from the left corner popped out to Graham Slaggert, who was all alone in the right circle and got a low shot past DeRidder.
Michigan State pulled even 2:13 later when a bouncing puck went off Charlie Combs and into the UND net. Powell Connor fired a shot that rebounded off Bischel and into the slot where Nodler threw it back toward the net. The puck bounced high and then off Combs, who was pushed into the crease, and across the goal line.
A night after extinguishing all four Notre Dame power plays, the Spartans were put to the test again in the first period on Sunday. Seven combined penalties between the teams, including a 5-minute major assessed to the Spartans, led to three Notre Dame power plays – all extinguished by the Spartans.
The Spartans killed another UND power play in the third period and snuffed out all four Irish power plays for the second straight night.
The Spartans took the lead, 2-1, when Mitchell Lewandowski scored 4:48 into the second period.
Dennis Cesana picked up the puck deep in the MSU end and carried it all the way into UND territory where he set up Lewandowski, who gave a pass to Müller. Müller fanned on the initial shot, but got the puck back to Lewandowski, whose low shot slid under the left pad of Bischel.
Notre Dame made it a 2-2- game at the 4:45 mark of the third when Grant Silianoff scored from just off the left side of the crease.
Michael Graham gave the Irish a 3-2 lead at 9:37 of the third.
Notre Dame finished with a 45-28 edge in shots on goal.
Michigan State returns to action Jan. 3-4, 2021 when it hosts Penn State at Munn Ice Arena.
Team Stats
MSU
ND
Shots
28
45
PPG
0
0
SHG
0
0
Penalties
6
3
Penalty Mins
23
6
Faceoffs Won
32
37
Game Leaders
+/-
+2
Goals
1
Sh
6
A
1
+/-
+1
Goals
0
Sh
1
A
2
+/-
+1
Goals
0
Sh
0
A
2
+/-
+1
Goals
1
Sh
3
A
0
Players Mentioned
D
/ Men's Ice Hockey
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/ Men's Ice Hockey
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/ Men's Ice HockeyF
/ Men's Ice HockeyD
/ Men's Ice HockeyF
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