February 12, 2012 - 12:08am
Recap: Michigan splits weekend with MSU in OT
BY DAILY HOCKEY BEAT
- Adam Glanzman/Daily
DETROIT — The last time Michigan played Michigan State in Joe Louis Arena, it ended in a 3-2 overtime win for the Wolverines.
Déjà vu.
The Wolverines dominated possession in the first frame — and it paid off for them.
Junior forward A.J. Treais scored his fifth goal in as many games. His first shot from in front of the crease rebounded off of Spartan netminders Will Yanakeff, but Treais collected the puck and fired a backhand to find the back of the net.
The Spartans found the equalizer early in the second period fifth year senior goaltender Shawn Hunwick couldn’t stop Michigan State’s Greg Wolfe’s slapshot.
The Wolverines’ penalty kill woes continued. Freshman forward Zach Hyman went to the box for goaltender interference, and Michigan State had no problem firing the puck from the left side of the crease and past Hunwick.
But Treais knotted the game to 2-2 just minutes later, and he sent a wrister from the top of the circle and into the left shelf.
Both teams started taking more chances in the third stanza, especially the Spartans. Hunwick made some big saves, but also was on the receiving end of a little luck, too. It took the Michigan defense several minutes before it could even clear the puck from the zone.
Sophomore forward Luke Moffatt took a trip to the penalty box for hooking with 5 minutes remaining in the game. But this time, the unit actually killed the penalty — the defense worked especially hard to clear the puck from the zone.
Then it was Michigan’s turn to take control of the puck. But like the Spartans, the Wolverines couldn’t get the puck to the back of the net. But the clock ran out on both teams, sending the game into overtime.
But junior forward Kevin Lynch found the back of the net 2 minutes into overtime to give the Wolverines the all important 3 CCHA points it needs.
