Lowell Shuts Out Spartans 4-0

GAME CAPSULE

Michigan State could never quite find its offensive touch on Saturday at UMass-Lowell, and fell to the host team, 4-0.

Nik Armstrong-Kingkade scored twice for the River Hawks (2-1-1), and goaltender Henry Welsch made 27 saves in his team's first home victory of the season. UMass-Lowell scored twice on special teams - once on the power play and shorthanded.

Pierce Charleson made 27 saves in his third start of the season, suffering his first loss after starting 2-0.

MSU was 0-for-6 on the power play, tying its season high for power play chances in a game this season.

MSU opens its conference slate next weekend at Ohio State.

SUPPORTING STORYLINES

The Spartans had killed 14 consecutive penalties over its previous four games before surrendering an extra-man tally in the first period tonight. UML finished 1-for-5 on the power play on the night and 1-for-10 in the series with a man advantage.
MSU is now 19-of-21 on the penalty kill on the season.
The Spartans surrendered a season-high four goals, and allowed a third period goal for just the second time this season.
Mitchell Mattson was the team's third Alternate Captain for the game.

GAME SYNOPSIS

FIRST PERIOD: MSU had its streak of 14 straight successful penalty kills snapped in the opening frame at 9:50, when Carl Berglund's shot rang two pipes but found its way past Pierce Charleson for his first goal of the season. The visitors outshot their hosts 9-6 in the frame, but gave UML a pair of power-play chances.

SECOND PERIOD: UML had a prime time to pad its lead when the Spartans were whistled for two penalties at the same time – Papp for holding, Christian Krygier for slashing. MSU kept the hosts off the board for the duration of the penalties, but 12 seconds later, Lucas Condotta was able to score on the Spartan defense, doubling the lead. MSU got its second power play chance at 4:46, but a man advantage turned into a shorthanded breakaway in the opposite direction, and Andranik Armstrong-Kingkade put his first goal of the season on the board. MSU got its second power play chance at the 7:39 mark, MSU had three good chances, but could not solve Welsch. Each goaltender made 12 saves in the period.

THIRD PERIOD: A boarding call just 19 seconds into the third gave MSU its fourth power play chance of the night, but the Spartans couldn't convert and the period played on. At 8:44, the RiverHawks put a fourth goal on the board, a redirected chip shot from Armstrong-Kingkade right in front of the crease for the winger's second goal of the night. The Spartans were out-shot 11-6 in the final period, its largest discrepancy on the night.

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Team Stats

David Gucciardi

Jeremy Davidson

Erik Middendorf

Jesse Tucker

Players Mentioned

Pierce Charleson

Christian Krygier

Mitchell Mattson

Players Mentioned

Pierce Charleson

Christian Krygier

Mitchell Mattson