Michigan State University
Bowling Green
Spartans Rally for OT win at Bowling Green
12/11/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Dec. 11, 2009
Bowling Green, Ohio - Torey Krug's first collegiate tally gave Michigan State a dramatic overtime victory at Bowling Green on Friday evening. The Spartans, who rallied from a 2-0 deficit with a pair of goals in the final period, improve to 11-6-2, 8-3-2 in conference play. MSU potted its second overtime victory of the season, and will tangle with clustermate Bowling Green again on Saturday in East Lansing.
Box Score | Video Highlights
Corey Tropp had the game-tying tally in the third period, and also started the play in the overtime session. He fed the puck to winger Derek Grant, who slid a pass to Krug, who was the fourth man into the zone. Krug's shot from the left point made its way through traffic for the blueliners first goal for Michigan State.
MSU got a good start to the game, buzzing the offensive end and getting some chances, but was not able to find the back of the net. Wade Finegan gave the home team a goal on the power play at 14:53 of the first to give BG a first-intermission lead. Finegan took advantage of a defensive turnover in the MSU zone and wristed a shot from the right circle over the blocker hand of Bobby Jarosz.
The Falcons extended their lead seven minutes into the second period, when Tomas Petruska and Nathan Pageau broke into the offensive zone, and Petruska dished off to his linemate on the left side. Pageau's shot beat Jarosz blocker-side for his third goal of the season.
MSU was not without chances in the first two periods- Derek Grant had great chances in the opening shift of the first period (hit the post) and in the final seconds of that frame, when the goalie made a point-blank save. Midway through the second, Andrew Rowe was sprung from the penalty box and streaked with the lead pass into the offensive zone, stickhandled around two defenders, but Eno made the save. Rowe corralled his own rebound, but was stopped by the right post. The Spartans were held off the board in the first two periods and were being outshot 20-13.
The Spartans finally cut into the lead eight minutes into the third, when Daultan Leveille corralled the puck on the right side, brought it out to the point, and dished across the blue line to Zach Josepher. Josepher held it, moved just above the dot in the left circle, and fired a shot through traffic that beat Nick Eno glove-side.
Tropp got his equalizer with just under six minutes remaining in regulation. Grant had the shot, and it was saved by Eno. Tropp crashed the net, and swatted at the loose puck, which beat Eno five-hole. Despite the Spartans pressing in the final seconds of regulation, the game went to an extra session - where Krug ended it shortly thereafter.
Jarosz made his second straight Friday night start and made 29 saves in the victory. Eno finished with 21 for BG.
NOTES: ... The Spartans went to overtime in the second straight game ... MSU is now 2-1-2 in overtime games this season, tying last year's total of five overtime contests ... All three overtime games that did not end in a tie were decided by 3-2 margins ... Corey Tropp and Derek Grant each had multiple-point games ... Corey Tropp has scored game-tying goals with approximately six minutes remaining in each of the last two games ...
