Spartans Halt Skid With 1-0 Win at NMU

Dec. 4, 2009

Post-game Audio:: Head Coach Rick | Corey Bobby

Marquette, Mich. - No. 11 Michigan State snapped a four-game winless streak with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Northern Michigan on Friday evening in Marquette. The Spartans got a third-period goal from Corey Tropp and a 20-save shutout from Bobby Jarosz to improve to 10-5-2, 7-2-2 in CCHA play.

The teams played more than 50 minutes of scoreless hockey. While the Spartans took a bit of time to get going on the big surface - this was MSU's first game on Olympic ice this season - they took command in the second period and maintained it through the third frame. However, without goals on the scoreboard, it remained tightly-fought as the team's netminders made the necessary stops. Brian Stewart earned the game's first star with 36 saves.

The goal came with 6:07 to play in the third, as Derek Grant picked up the puck just over the blueline, eluded a defender, and sent a cross-slot pass to Corey Tropp, who beat Brian Stewart with the team's 36th shot of the night. It was the 11th goal of the season for Tropp, and 10th assist for Grant.

After allowing 11 shots in the opening period to their hosts, MSU limited the Wildcats to one shot in the second period and did not allow a shot in the third until more than six minutes had expired. The Spartans did a good job of blocking shots and passing lanes, and keeping Northern Michigan from getting much going offensively in their zone.

Penalties certainly were a factor for the home team, as the Wildcats were whistled for seven penalties for a total of 25 minutes. Despite MSU going 0-for-6 on the man advantage, the Wildcat defense tired from long stretches of killing penalties. The Spartans had seven consecutive minutes of a man advantage early in the third period. MSU had chances, but several were saved with good efforts from NMU netminder Brian Stewart and a few others were shots that were just wide.

At the end of the Spartans' first chance in the third period, Chris Forfar hit the crossbar for MSU's closest near-miss of the evening. As the extra-man chance expired, Brian Nugent was whistled for hitting from behind, putting MSU on the extended power play. With 2:40 remaining in the major, Forfar was whistled for charging, putting the teams at four a side. Dustin Gazley had a great chance on a two-on-two, but Stewart made the save to keep the game scoreless. After Tropp's goal at 13:53, the `Cats tried to press, but MSU stayed composed and kept the NMU to the outside. Northern pulled Stewart with just over a minute remaining in favor of an extra skater, but could not gain an equalizer, even with two faceoffs down in the MSU defensive zone in the final 12 seconds of play.

The teams will face off again on Saturday in a 7:35 start.

NOTES: The Spartans secured their 10th victory of the season, a milestone they reached on Feb. 20 last season with a 3-2 win over Bowling Green ... MSU holds down second place in the CCHA standings with seven wins, matching its conference win total from last season ... MSU scored first in Friday's game, the first time in five games it has gotten on the board first ... Corey Tropp scored his 11th goal of the season, giving him 20 in his MSU career ... The top line of Tropp, Grant, and Sucharski had 11 of MSU's 37 shots ...MSU has had 38 and 37 shots in its last two games, and has only scored twice ... MSU is 5-2-0 in one-goal games this season ... Bobby Jarosz earned his first career shutout with 20 saves, and is now 2-1 in road starts ... Tropp is now tied for the national lead in game-winning goals (3)