Michigan State University Athletics
Miller Powers MSU Past Notre Dame
2/8/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Feb. 8, 2002
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Two staples of Michigan State hockey - the power play and goaltender Ryan Miller (East Lansing, Mich.) - combined to lead the Spartans (20-5-5 overall, 15-4-4 Central Collegiate Hockey Association) to a 2-0 victory over Notre Dame in front of a sellout crowd at Munn Ice Arena Friday. The win extended MSU's school-record home unbeaten streak to 33 games (30-0-3).
Miller was spectacular in goal, making 39 saves and outdueling Fighting Irish freshman Morgan Cey, who stopped 41 shots on the night. Junior John-Michael Liles (Zionsville, Ind.), meanwhile, scored during State's fourth man-advantage opportunity late in the second period to provide the Spartans with all the offense they would need.
Liles' goal, which came with 36 seconds left in the second period, started when Notre Dame's penalty killers couldn't clear the zone. Freshman forward Ash Goldie (London, Ont.) kept the puck in and dropped it back toward the high slot, where Liles picked up the pass and unleashed a 50-foot bomb that went into the upper-right corner of the net.
"I didn't feel that I was playing very well up to that point," said Liles. "I was just trying to put all that I could into it and I beat (Cey) high glove. It was a little pent-up anger, I think."
Both goalies were outstanding - and busy - in a first period in which both teams attempted 16 shots on goal. Miller held the Fighting Irish (9-15-5 overall, 7-12-4 CCHA) at bay during a two-man advantage midway through the period. Cey sparkled on during an MSU power play early in the second period during which the Spartans spent nearly the entire two minutes in the offensive zone. The netminders were also tested numerous times in the third period, 20 minutes which featured no penalties and very few stoppages in play. MSU captain Adam Hall (Kalamazoo, Mich.) ultimately salted the game away with an empty net goal with 12 seconds left in regulation.
"I just tried to put myself in the right position and obviously tonight it was good timing," said Miller, who extended his NCAA record with his 25th career shutout and first since Dec. 8 at Northern Michigan. "The one goal we got was hard-fought. We didn't really break away until Hallsy chipped that second one in. It was a tight game up until then."
The two teams square off Saturday in the finale of a CCHA series. Game time Saturday is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
