Spartans Shut Out in Columbus, 3-0

Nov. 7, 2008

Coverage:
Rick

Columbus, Ohio - Jeff Lerg made a season-best 46 saves, but it was not enough to overcome Michigan State's struggles on offense as the Spartans fell, 3-0, to Ohio State on Friday evening in Columbus. Michigan State loses its first conference game of the year, and falls to 4-3-2 overall, 2-1-2-2 in CCHA play. The teams will meet again on Saturday in Columbus to complete the first of two series on the schedule this season.

"We're still having problems generating offense," admitted head coach Rick Comley. "We're getting outstanding goaltending, which makes us believe that we can win on any night. But, we're going to have to figure out a way to start getting more shots to the net and more offense."

The game was tight until the final seven minutes of the game, when two goals two minutes apart turned a slight 1-0 lead into the final 3-0 margin. The Buckeyes got their first goal when they jumped on the board at the 13:29 mark of the first period off a scramble in front. Matt Bartkowski, a freshman blueliner, was credited with the goal, and assists went to Patrick Schafer and Peter Boyd.

Ian Boots potted his first career goal at 13:51 of the final period. Lerg had made the save, and the loose puck went out back behind the net. Boots corralled it, brought it back out front, and his offering was saved again by Lerg; Boots then lifted the puck over a prone goalie to give the Buckeyes some cushion on the lead. Just two minutes later, the Spartans turned over the puck deep in the zone, allowing Mathieu Picard shot from the left side to beat Lerg stick-side.

Seventeen of Lerg's 46 saves came in the final frame; MSU managed eight shots in each of the first two periods and then just five in the final stanza. The Spartans kept OSU off the board in its three power-play chances, but also went 0-for-2 in with a man advantage.

Saturday's game at Value City Arena begins at 7:05 p.m.

NOTES: Michigan State was shut out for the second time this season, both coming by a 3-0 margin ... Ohio State had 15 shots in each of the first two periods, the most allowed by MSU in either the first or second period this season ... Jeff Lerg's 17 third-period saves was one shy of his record for a single period. His 46 in the game is eight shy of his career best ... Corey Tropp returned to the lineup tonight after missing the last five games with illness ... Andrew Rowe (leg) and Nick Sucharski (arm) remained out of the lineup this weekend, and did not travel to Columbus ...