Spartans Run Out of Time in 3-2 Loss to Michigan

GAME CAPSULE

Michigan State's late comeback wasn't enough, as it fell to No. 3 /4 Michigan, 3-2 on Saturday night at Munn Ice Arena.

The Spartans (4-5-2 1-3-0 B1G) welcomed a sellout crowd of 6,705 to the first home game against Michigan with fans since Feb. 14, 2020. Three goals for the visitors in the opening period took a bit of air out of the crowd, but a late goal in the second period by Griffin Loughran and a third-period strike from Nico Mueller pumped life back into the building. MSU spent long stretches in the offensive zone in the third, outshooting their guests 7-3 in the final frame.

Drew DeRidder made several highlight-reel saves, particularly in the second period when he totaled 11, to go toward his 23 total saves on the night. Erik Portillo stopped 18 shots, while Matty Beniers had his second straight two-goal night against the Spartans.

MSU has a non-conference home-and-home series against Ferris State on the docket next week, hosting the Bulldogs on Thursday (7 pm) before the rematch Saturday in Big Rapids.

STATISTICS OF NOTE

Drew DeRidder made 23 saves, including nine in the first and 11 in the second period.
Griffin Loughran had his third goal of the season.
Nicolas Muller scored his first of the year in the third period to bring MSU within a goal.
MSU dropped its third straight game, all in Big Ten play, after opening the B1G schedule with a 2-1 win at Ohio State.
Three of the first four Big Ten games for MSU came on the road.

GAME SYNOPSIS

FIRST PERIOD: Michigan once again scored early in the period, with Luke Morgan beating DeRidder just 44 seconds into the opening frame for a 1-0 lead. The Wolverines doubled the lead at 11:31 while skating on their second power play , as Matty Beniers received the puck in the high slot and forced it through traffic for the 2-0 visitor lead. Beniers struck again at 13:26 after the Spartans struggled to clear the zone, tucking the puck inside the right post after wheeling behind the net. MSU had a shorthanded chance when Adam Goodsir sprung loose for a breakaway at 14:35, but Portillo held his ground both on the initial shot and when Goodsir had a chance to bury the rebound. The Wolverines took that 3-0 lead into the locker room, with a 12-6 edge in shots on net.

SECOND PERIOD: The teams were both generating chances, but the Wolverines gave MSU a second power play chance when Beecher wet off for roughing at 12:47. Gucciardi had a chance on a give-and-go on the ensuing power play, but the Spartans also gave up a 2-on-1 in which DeRidder made a pair of highlight-reel saves to keep UM off the board. The senior goalie was masterful, turning away several crafty opportunities, racking up 11 saves in the frame. The Spartans gave him some support with a goal from Griffin Loughran which broke up the shutout at 18:26. Middendorf dished to Nodler in the high slot, and settled the carom off his skates and quickly dished to Loughran for his third goal of the season. S

THIRD PERIOD: MSU pounced on an early opportunity in the third period and brought the Spartans within a goal at 2:18. A shot by Gucciardi from the right point was saved, and Joshua tried to put it past Portillo. Muller swooped in and poked it past Portillo's stick for his first goal of the season – but most importantly brought the Spartans within a goal. The potent UM power play got an other chanc at 4:03 when Loughran was sent off for indirect contact to the head, but MSU did a good job of clogging lanes and being disruptive in the defensive zone. MSU spent long stretches in its offensive zone throughout the third period, and owned a 7-3 edge in shots on net – but the elusive equalizer never came, as the Spartans dropped their third straight.

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Team Stats

Griffin Loughran

Nicolas Müller

David Gucciardi

Jagger Joshua

Players Mentioned

Drew DeRidder

Adam Goodsir

Griffin Loughran