Gophers Rally For 4-2 Win Over MSU

GAME CAPSULE

Michigan State took a 2-0 lead in the first period at Minnesota on Friday, but the No. 8/10 Gophers rallied for two goals in each the second and third periods to take a 4-2 win in the first game of the weekend.

Pierce Charleson made 36 saves for the Spartans (11-15-1, 5-12-0 B1G), who were looking to snap a six-game skid after a bye week. Minnesota (16-11-0, 11-6-0 B1G) won their third straight game against MSU this season.

MSU opened up a 2-0 lead before the game was 10 minutes old, as Christian Krygier scored his second goal of the season on a breakaway and Jeremy Davidson doubled the advantage when he finished off a pass from Erik Middendorf at 9:23. All four Gopher tallies came in the final 30 minutes, with both Aaron Huglen and Rhett Pitlik tallying a goal and an assist. Goalie Justen Close had 21 saves for Minnesota.

Michigan State and Minnesota play their fourth and final regular-season game on Saturday at Mariucci, with a 5 pm CT puck drop.


STATISTICS OF NOTE

Jeremy Davidson scored his 10^th goal of the season in the first period,
Christian Krygier opened the game's scoring with his second goal of the season.
Pierce Charleson made 36 saves.

NOTABLES AND STORYLINES

Christian Krygier scored his second goal of the season in the first period – the first time in his career he's had multiple goals.
Jesse Tucker pushed his assist total to 17 on the year, and he has points in five of the last six Spartan games.
Jeremy Davidson had his first goal since the Jan. 8 game vs. Minnesota.
The Middendorf-Tucker-Davidson line has six gals and 10 assists in the six games since its formation.
Pierce Charleson made his first start since Jan. 15 at Wisconsin, and made 36 saves. He has combined for 80 saves in two games against Minnesota this season.

GAME SYNOPSIS

FIRST PERIOD: The Spartans didn't appear to have any lingering rust from the bye week, scoring twice before the halfway point of the first period for a 2-0 lead. Christian Krygier forced the turnover in the defensive zone and sprung for a breakaway, beating goalie Justen Close on a backhander for his second goal of the season. Jeremy Davidson went to the box on a holding call at 6:04, but the Spartans killed the penalty – and Davidson atoned for the infraction by finishing a cross-slot pass from Erik Middendorf at 8:23 for a 2-0 MSU advantage. While the Gophers had the better of shots on net in the period – Pierce Charleson made 14 saves – the Spartans had some good looks on Close, including a pair of saves to stop Cesana and Joshua in the final five minutes of the frame. The Gopher netminder made nine stops in all.

SECOND PERIOD: It took more than 30 minutes, but the Gophers scored two goals just over two minutes apart to erase the deficit A nifty pass by Aaron Huglen got the puck ahead to Mike Koster, and he fed freshman winger Rhett Pitlik for his first career goal at 10:39. At 12:14, Huglen scored the tying goal, with Ryan Johnson and Pitlik picking up the assists. Charleson was outstanding again, stopping 17 shots – including stealing another would-be goal from Blake McLaughlin – to keep the Spartans tied heading into the second intermission

THIRD PERIOD: McLoughlin finally broke through for Minnesota, snapping the 2-2 tie at 4:08 of the third period, as a lead pass by Bryce Brodzinski found McLoughlin at the offensive blue line and a 2-on-0 rush led to the winger's 10^th of the season. A Tristan Broz goal – flipped up over the shoulder of Charleson – made it a 4-2 Gopher lead at 8:45. Minnesota held a slim 7-6 edge in shots on net in the final frame, but two found their mark to lead the home team to a victory.

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Team Stats

Christian Krygier

Jeremy Davidson

Jesse Tucker

Erik Middendorf

Players Mentioned

Pierce Charleson

Jeremy Davidson

Christian Krygier

Erik Middendorf

Jesse Tucker

Players Mentioned

Pierce Charleson

Jeremy Davidson

Christian Krygier

Erik Middendorf

Jesse Tucker