Spartans Fall to No. 5 Minnesota, 4-2

Friday, December 4

East Lansing, Mich.

8 P.M. ET

Michigan State University

2-3-1, 1-3-0-1-0-0

Minnesota

6-0, 6-0-0-0

Minnesota

Michigan State

Photo by: Matthew Mitchell Photography

12/4/2020 11:35:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey

Box Score

EAST LANSING – The Michigan State hockey team nearly came back to down No. 5 Minnesota on Friday night at Munn Ice Arena, but in the end the Gophers were able to hold off the Spartans' rally and an empty-net goal with 11 seconds to play made the final score 4-2. Kyle Haskins and Dennis Cesana scored consecutive goals for the Spartans, who erased an early 2-0 deficit. But Scott Reedy's power-play goal with 5:46 to play in the second period would up being the winner.

The Spartans (2-3-1, 1-3-0-1-0-0) outshot the Gophers (6-0, 6-0-0-0-0-0) in the third period for the second straight night, 11-7, and had several quality chances in the closing minutes.

"It was a good battle," MSU head coach Danton Cole said. "We were on our heels a little bit and spent a lot of time in their zone at first, but we battled out of it and righted the ship.

"That's a good hockey team, we gave them all they could handle and it's a good marker for us and we'll look down the road and keep improving. Lots of good stuff, we'll build on that and start getting ready for Wisconsin."

The Golden Gophers opened the scoring at the 5:03 mark of the opening period as Ben Meyers found the back of the net off a faceoff in the MSU end.

Jaxon Nelson made it 2-1 with 4:33 to go in the first when he got a pass in front of the net from Jack Perbix.

Minnesota outshot the Spartans 15-7 in the opening period, but its two-goal lead lasted just 19 seconds as Haskins' first-career goal made it 2-1.

Mitchell Lewandowski go the puck at the right point and sent a pass to Nico Müller in the right circle, who one-timed a pass in front to Haskins. Haskins, fended off a defenseman, collected the puck and used his forehand to put it past goaltender Jack LaFontaine.

Cesana's first goal of the season made it a new game 3:50 into the second period.

Josh Nodler got the puck from Charlie Combs out of the corner and played give-and-go with a charging Cesana from the right point. Cesana got a pass back in the slot, took it off his skate, up to his stick and let a low shot go that sailed past LaFontaine.

The Spartans wound up putting 15 shots on goal in the second period, but a late penalty gave the Gophers a power play and they took advantage. Reedy's shot from the point off a faceoff win in the right circle got through everyone four seconds into the man-advantage to make it 3-2.

A late 2-on-1 by Lewandowski and Haskins started a barrage of late chances for the Spartans. With just over three minutes to play, Lewandowski saucered a perfect pass off a 2-on-1 to Haskins, but LaFontaine slid over in time to keep it out.

Minnesota finished with a 36-33 edge in shots on goal. MSU was 0-for-2 on the power play, while Minnesota was 1-for-3.

The Spartans will get right back to action on Tuesday (6 p.m./BTN) and Wednesday (4 p.m./BTN) at Munn vs. No. 14 Wisconsin.