February 11, 2012 - 6:27pm
Michigan hockey falls to Michigan State on three unanswered goals
BY DAILY HOCKEY BEAT
- Paul Sherman/Daily
EAST LANSING — For 26 straight tries, the Michigan hockey team successfully killed off its opponents power plays, a streak that dates back to the Frozen Diamond Faceoff against Ohio State in January.
On Friday, though, penalties were the Wolverines’ undoing. After jumping out to a two-goal lead, No. 4 Michigan surrendered three unanswered goals in a loss to No. 17 Michigan State. The Spartans won 3-2, thanks to two power-play goals.
Michigan weathered several Michigan State scoring opportunities in the first period. The frame ended in a scoreless stalemate, but the Spartans controlled the play.
On its first power play opportunity, forward Brett Perlini couldn’t connect on a pass with half of the goal open. Just minutes later, defenseman Torey Krug’s shot clanged off a post and deflected wide.
The play shifted in Michigan’s favor in the second period. Four minutes into the frame, freshman forward Phil DiGiuseppe found junior forward A.J. Treais on a 2-on-1 rush, and Treais beat goalie Will Yanakeff glove side for the games first goal.
Freshman forward Andrew Sinelli had a chance to seize a two-goal lead with a breakaway chance, but Yanakeff denied his attempt. Two minutes later, though, junior forward Kevin Lynch muscled in a loose puck in front of the goal to put the Wolverines up by two.
Michigan State continued to create quality scoring opportunities. Another shot found the post late in the second period, but again, it went wide.
Finally, with seven minutes remaining in the frame, defenseman Torey Krug converted on one of the Spartans’ numerous opportunities. He sent blistering slap shot from above the circles past fifth-year senior goalie Shawn Hunwick to cut the lead in half entering the third period.
Krug connected again at the start of the third. After the Spartans went on a power play in the period’s opening minute, Krug put another slap shot past Hunwick to tie the game at two. The goal was the first allowed by the Wolverines’ penalty-kill unit in 27 chances.
Krug continued to spearhead the Spartan onslaught. Minutes later on another power play, Krug fired a shot from close range. It was deflected, but slid right to forward Matt Berry on the doorstep. Berry buried the shot to give Sparty its first lead of the night.
With just more than two minutes remaining in the contest, Yanakeff came up with a game-saving save. Moffatt fired a one-timer on the power play from point blank range. Yanakeff gloved it to protect the one-goal lead.
Michigan played the game without junior forward Chris Brown, who received a game misconduct and a one-game suspension at the end of the game with Miami on Saturday.
