Kelly's Penalty Shot Propels MSU, 4-3

Tanner Kelly converted a penalty shot midway through the third period to break a 3-3 tie and the Spartans skated to a 4-3 victory over No. 16/16 UMass-Lowell on Thursday night at Munn Ice Arena.

The Spartans (2-1-0) earned their first win over a ranked team this season after splitting with Bowling Green last week, a team which was receiving votes in both national polls.

Tanner Kelly is hooked on a breakaway and SCORES on the penalty shot! pic.twitter.com/i4OXK9nAz3
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) October 14, 2022

Graduate captain Miroslav Mucha scored his first two goals as a Spartan to help MSU to a 3-1 first-period lead, as MSU scored three goals in a 94-minute span. The first two went to Mucha, the first on a redirection (14:03) and the second on a shot from the right circle (14:45). Christian Krygier buried his first of the year at 15:37, scoring from the left circle.

UMass-Lowell pulled within a goal less than a minute into the second period, scoring on a power play which carried over from the opening frame. The visitors tied things up 1:14 into the third, as Scout Truman and Nick Rheaume teamed up to give the River Hawks new life at 3-3.

Dylan St. Cyr made his third straight start and made 19 saves, while Gustavs Davis Gringals made 21.

The teams complete the two-game series on Friday night at 7:30 pm. The Spartans will honor their 2007 National Championship team during the game on the 15^th anniversary of securing the title.

STATISTICS OF NOTE

Miroslav Mucha had a pair of first-period goals, his first two as a Spartan. It was his second career two-goal game.
Karsen Dorwart ended up with a pair of assists on the first three MSU goals. They were his first points as a Spartan.
Christian Krygier scored his fourth career goal and first of the season.
Tanner Kelly scored on a penalty shot at 10:45 of the third period. It was MSU's first penalty shot since Feb. 5, 2016 (Joe Cox vs Michigan).
UMass-Lowell scored early in every period – 2:53 into the first, 0:49 into the second, and 1:14 into the third period.
The first five goals of the 2022-23 season for MSU were scored by newcomers to the program, a streak broken up by Christian Krygier with his goal in the first period.
MSU had a tied its season high with 11 blocked shots.
MSU scored its most goals in a game since Dec. 4, 2021 at Penn State. The Spartans reached four goals in a game just three times last season.
The Spartans have won consecutive games for the first time since Nov. 19-20, 2021 vs. Wisconsin (3-2, 5-2)

First Period:   After missing the first weekend of the regular season, David Gucciardi returned to the lineup and immediately made his presence felt with a pair of good scoring chances and a big hit before the game was eight minutes old.    MSU generated chance after chance and was spending long stretches in the offensive zone.   Right after St. Cyr turned a breakaway chance by Carl Berglund, the tide turned. The Spartans were rewarded for their persistence, scoring three times in a 94-second span after the midway point of the game. Miroslav Mucha had the first two – the first a tip of a Matt Basgall shot from the right point, and the second 42 seconds later on his own shot from the right circle. Christian Krygier added a third goal, skating into the left circle from the half wall and wristing his first of the season. The Spartans outshot their guests 14-10, with St. Cyr making nine saves.

Second Period: With a carryover penalty from the first period, the Lowell power play got a goal back in the first minute of the second frame. Filip Fornaa-Svensson scored his second of the season. MSU was whistled for took two more penalties before the seven minute mark, keeping the Spartans from enjoying any sustained pressure in the offensive zone. UMass-Lowell didn't have much more luck, recording just two shots on net over the first 10 minutes of the period despite nearly five minutes of power play.   MSU ended up with a late power play chance, but despite getting three shots on Gustavs Davis Grigals, MSU couldn't pad the lead and took a one-goal margin into the locker room.

Third Period: The visitors tied the game up 1:14 into the third period, with Scout Truman tipping a shot from Nick Rheaume to make it a 3-3 game. Tanner Kelly was sprung on a breakaway and was hooked by Fornaa-Svensson with 9:15 on the clock. After nearly 30 seconds of a delayed penalty,   Kelly lined up for the penalty shot, skated in, faked forehand, went backhand, and roofed the puck to give MSU a 4-3 lead. The Spartans held UMass Lowell off the board for the balance of the contest, including the final 30 seconds the game when UML skated 6-on-4 with their goalie on the bench.

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Team Stats

Miroslav Mucha

Tanner Kelly

Christian Krygier

Daniel Russell

Players Mentioned

Matt Basgall

Karsen Dorwart

David Gucciardi

Tanner Kelly

Christian Krygier

Miroslav Mucha

Dylan St. Cyr