December 10, 2011 - 9:08pm
RECAP: Hockey fails to score in shootout
BY DAILY HOCKEY BEAT
EAST LANSING — We’re LIVE from Munn Ice Arena where the Michigan hockey team is looking for a weekend sweep of Michigan State.
The Wolverines walked away with a 4-3 win last night in Ann Arbor, in what was arguably Michigan’s best game in weeks. Fifth-year senior netminder Shawn Hunwick was instrumental in the win, making tremendous saves, especially as the third stanza wound down and the Spartans looked for the equalizer.
Notably absent from the Wolverines’ roster this evening is forward Phil Di Giuseppe. The freshman returned to his native Canada this weekend where he will attend camp for the Canadian junior team. Di Giuseppe is currently in second place on the team for most number of goals scored (eight).
Michigan’s last sweep was against Ferris State at the end of October. Tonight, the Wolverines head into enemy territory where they’ll try to walk away from the weekend with all six points. Join the Daily Hockey Beat for all the action live from Munn.
FIRST PERIOD SUMMARY
Michigan knows how important it is to take the lead and score first. So that’s what they did. Junior forward Chris Brown found the rebound from a shot off of Spartan goaltender Drew Palmisano’s stomach.
But just like Friday night, the Spartans responded with one of their own. It was more luck than anything — Michigan State shot from the blue line. Sometime after the shot, the puck bounced off someone’s skate and in the corner past Hunwick.
The Spartan’s first goal may have been by chance, but their second was a direct result of Hunwick. The netminders tried to clear the puck by wrapping it around the back of the net. But Michigan State intercepted the pass and took the puck to the crease. With Hunwick caught out of position, it was easy for Michigan State to lob the puck over Hunwick’s shoulder.
Michigan’s penalty kill, which converted twice last night, didn’t see any action in the first period, nor did Michigan’s: both teams stayed out of the box.
SECOND PERIOD SUMMARY
The Spartans built off their momentum gained in the first period and kept the puck in front of Hunwick. Michigan got lucky — Michigan State either lost control of the puck, or when they did shoot, the puck was either too high or wide.
Michigan didn’t have much more luck either. Freshman forward Zach Hyman face planted in front of Palmasino. But they found the back of the net eventually. Sophomore forward Luke Moffatt’s shot deflected off the crook of Palmasino’s elbow and into the goal.
Michigan spent much of the period working the puck around its attack zone, but never really generating much offensively. The referees stayed quiet too, and once again, no penalties were called in the period either.
THIRD PERIOD SUMMARY
A penalty-less game couldn’t last with the game tied going into the third stanza. Michigan State took the first penalty of the game 28 seconds into the third stanza for elbowing. Michigan tried to work around Palmisano, but the Spartans easily killed the penalty. Freshman defenseman Mike Chiasson soon followed suit with a tripping penalty of his own.
Hunwick was almost caught out of position again, but this time senior defenseman Greg Pateryn bailed him out, with a shot deflection off his skate.
The middle of the period saw little action from either side. It wasn’t until the last 6 minutes that either team really saw much action when senior forward David Wohlberg scored on a rebound.
But the Wolverines couldn’t hold onto their lead. With four minutes remaining, the Spartans scored on a power play. Junior defenseman Lee Moffie tried to clear the puck away from Hunwick, but the puck found the tape of a Spartan. A slapshot past Hunwick was all Michigan State needed to tie the game.
Brown and a Spartan both took penalties with 54 seconds left, and the teams played four on four to end the stanza. But neither team could score, and the game went into overtime.
OVERTIME
Wohlberg almost ended overtime second in when his shot rebounded off Palmisano — the Wolverines had an opportunity to capitalize, but couldn’t get to the puck in time.
Moffatt also took the puck right into the crease in front of Palmasino, but the netminders collected before Moffatt could take the shot.
The Wolverines dominated possession during overtime, but couldn't score. The game went to overtime.
SHOOTOUT
Michigan State took the first shot, which Hunwick caught it between his legs. Wohlberg went first for the Wolverines, but shot too high.
MSU scored on their second try, but Brown shot right into Palmasino's pads. Treais was the last shooter for Michigan, but missed, leaving MSU the shooutout winner.
