Michigan State University Athletics
Thursday, December 3
East Lansing, Mich.
8 P.M. ET
Michigan State University
2-2-1, 1-2-1-1-0-0
1
vs
3
Minnesota
5-0-0, 5-0-0-0-0-0
1
2
3
F
Minnesota
2
1
0
3
Michigan State
0
0
1
1
Photo by: Matthew Mitchell Photography
Spartans Drop Opener With No. 5 Minnesota
12/4/2020 12:11:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
EAST LANSING – No. 5 Minnesota scored two first-period goals and went on to defeat the Michigan State hockey team, 3-1, on Thursday night at Munn Ice Arena. Cole Krygier scored for the Spartans, who pressed the Gophers late, but couldn't erase the deficit.
"Minnesota played a very good game and got us back on our heels," MSU head coach Danton Cole said. "I didn't think we were moving and doing very much right early on and they definitely took advantage of that. We're going to have to do some things a heck of a lot better. I do think in the third period we worked harder, got a lot more done and thought we played a much better period. We had some energy, moved some pucks, and did some things we wanted to do."
Ben Meyers scored the first of two Minnesota (5-0, 5-0) goals in a span of 1:36 in the opening period. Meyers scored on the power play at the 7:21 mark. Just over a minute and half later, Sampo Ranta backhanded in a puck from the top of the crease to put the Spartans in a 2-0 hole.
Minnesota struck again on the power play just over four minutes into the second period when Scott Reedy was able to get to a rebound off the right side of the crease and swipe it in to make it 3-0.
Josh Nodler had the Spartans' best chance of the middle stanza when with just under four minutes to play he got puck alone in front, but Minnesota goaltender Jack LaFontaine got his stick and pad on the low shot to keep it a 3-0 game.
LaFontaine finished with 24 saves.
The Spartans (2-2-1, 1-2-0-1-0-0) eventually broke through with 3:42 to play when Krygier's shot from the left point got through traffic and into the far corner of the net. Nodler and Charlie Combs both picked up assists on the goal, which was Krygier's first of the season.
Michigan State pressured the Gophers in the closing minutes and pulled goaltender Drew DeRidder for the extra attacker but couldn't get another puck past LaFontaine.
DeRidder made 31 stops for the Spartans.
The Spartans and Gophers will meet again on Friday at 8 p.m. at Munn Ice Arena. The game will air live on FOX Sports Detroit and TSN 2 in Canada.
"Minnesota played a very good game and got us back on our heels," MSU head coach Danton Cole said. "I didn't think we were moving and doing very much right early on and they definitely took advantage of that. We're going to have to do some things a heck of a lot better. I do think in the third period we worked harder, got a lot more done and thought we played a much better period. We had some energy, moved some pucks, and did some things we wanted to do."
Ben Meyers scored the first of two Minnesota (5-0, 5-0) goals in a span of 1:36 in the opening period. Meyers scored on the power play at the 7:21 mark. Just over a minute and half later, Sampo Ranta backhanded in a puck from the top of the crease to put the Spartans in a 2-0 hole.
Minnesota struck again on the power play just over four minutes into the second period when Scott Reedy was able to get to a rebound off the right side of the crease and swipe it in to make it 3-0.
Josh Nodler had the Spartans' best chance of the middle stanza when with just under four minutes to play he got puck alone in front, but Minnesota goaltender Jack LaFontaine got his stick and pad on the low shot to keep it a 3-0 game.
LaFontaine finished with 24 saves.
The Spartans (2-2-1, 1-2-0-1-0-0) eventually broke through with 3:42 to play when Krygier's shot from the left point got through traffic and into the far corner of the net. Nodler and Charlie Combs both picked up assists on the goal, which was Krygier's first of the season.
Michigan State pressured the Gophers in the closing minutes and pulled goaltender Drew DeRidder for the extra attacker but couldn't get another puck past LaFontaine.
DeRidder made 31 stops for the Spartans.
The Spartans and Gophers will meet again on Friday at 8 p.m. at Munn Ice Arena. The game will air live on FOX Sports Detroit and TSN 2 in Canada.
Team Stats
MINN
MSU
Shots
34
25
PPG
2
0
SHG
0
0
Penalties
4
7
Penalty Mins
8
14
Faceoffs Won
27
31
Game Leaders
+/-
+1
Goals
1
Sh
3
A
0
+/-
+1
Goals
0
Sh
3
A
1
+/-
+1
Goals
0
Sh
1
A
1
+/-
+1
Goals
0
Sh
3
A
0
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