Michigan State University
Colgate
Spartans Down Colgate, 2-1, For Weekend Sweep
10/20/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Oct. 20, 2007
East Lansing, Mich. - Michigan State wrapped up its first home weekend of the season with a 2-1 victory over visiting Colgate on Saturday night at Munn Ice Arena. Jeff Lerg made 23 saves in allowing just one goal, while Justin Abdelkader had the game-winner and added an assist for the home team, which improves to 2-1 overall. Colgate falls to 2-2.
MSU opened the scoring at 6:45 of the opening frame while skating on the power play. Daniel Vukovic ripped a slapshot from the point, which was redirected by winger Tim Kennedy at the base of the left faceoff circle past the stick-hand of Mark Dekanich for the junior's first goal of the season.
The Spartans doubled their lead at 9:13. Michael Ratchuk made a nifty play at the right point to keep the puck in the zone, and passed off across the high slot to Tim Crowder. Crowder redirected it to Justin Abdelkader in the right faceoff circle, who took the puck, made one stride forward, and ripped a shot over the glove-hand shoulder of Dekanich for his second goal of the weekend.
With Tim Crowder already in the box and 1:15 expired on his penalty, Ryan Turek was whistled for a cross-check at 15:00. Skating five-on-three, it took the Raiders just 14 seconds to cut the lead in half, as Jesse Winchester fed the puck through the slot for Tyler Burton at the right post, who tapped the puck past Jeff Lerg.
Burton had a chance to knot the game at the 11:01 mark, when he was awarded a penalty shot after being hauled down on a breakaway. He attempted to go high stick-side on Lerg, but the netminder looked effortless in knocking away the offering with his blocker to preserve the one-goal lead.
The teams played a physical, scoreless third period, but Jeff Lerg made five saves to preserve the one-goal lead. The Spartans pressed to add to their lead as well, but Dekanich made 12 of his 25 saves in the final frame to keep the Raiders close.
The Spartans will open league play next weekend when they host Northern Michigan at Munn Ice Arena.
NOTES: Jeff Lerg's stop on the penalty shot was the first since Chad Alban made a stop in the 1996 NCAA tournament against UMass-Lowell ... MSU was 1-for-7 on the power play, but held the Raiders at 1-for-6 ...
