Michigan State University
Alabama-Huntsville
Spartans, Chargers End in 4-4 Deadlock
10/29/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Oct. 29, 2010
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State let a 4-1 third-period lead slip away and had to settle on a 4-4 tie with visiting Alabama-Huntsville on Friday night at Munn Ice Arena. MSU falls to 2-0-3, and Alabama-Huntsville to 1-5-1 overall.
Box Score
Post-Game Audio:Head Coach Rick | Matt | Daultan
Trailing 4-3, the Chargers pulled freshman netminder CJ Groh for the final 1:22 in favor of an extra skater, and a slashing call against Daultan Leveille with just over 17 seconds remaining gave UAH a 6-on-4. That Joe Koudys played the role of hero for the Chargers in the final seconds, as his shot from the left circle found its mark with 4.1 ticks remaining on the clock to send the teams to overtime. Brett Perlini had a great chance just a little more than a minute into the extra frame, but Groh came up with the point-blank save.
MSU netminder Drew Palmisano had to come up with some big stops himself in the final three minutes of the overtime period, as a holding call against Trevor Nill put the Spartans on the kill until there was 35 seconds remaining.
Zach Golembiewski's first goal of the season put the Spartans on the scoreboard midway through the first period. Torey Krug's offering at the left post was blocked by Groh, and the rebound caromed into the blue ice of the crease. It laid there for Golembiewski, who easily flipped it into the back of the net for his third career score.
The second period featured three goals, two for the Spartans and one for the visiting squad. Daultan Leveille potted his team-best third of the season at 4:43 of the middle frame. Leveille picked up the puck deep on the left side, wrapped around, and tucked the puck at the right post. The assist went to blueliner Matt Crandell. Huntsville got one back at 10:26, when Keenan Desmet's shot was saved by Palmisano, but the puck got loose and trickled through his leg pads and just over the goal line. Desmet's goal was his second of the season, and came off a pass from Sebastian Geoffrion. Jake Chelios scored his second in two games with his goal in the final minute of the second period, which sent the Spartans into the locker room with a 3-1 lead. Chelios potted his score from the top of the left circle.
The first scoring in the third period came with the teams skating four-on-four. With less obstruction on the ice, Brett Perlini got a clean shot through from the left circle off a pass from Dustin Gazley at 11:41 for the winger's third tally of the year, which put him in a tie for the team lead in goals with Leveille. The Chargers refused to roll over - they put a pair of goals on the board within 1:12 to turn a commanding 4-1 lead into a 4-3 nailbiter. UAH put their second on the board with 3:48 remaining, as Justin Cseter was credited with the unassisted marker. At 2:30, Neil Ruffini's wrister from the top of the slot eluded traffic and into the back of the net to pull the visitors to within a goal. That set up Koudys' tying goal in the waning seconds of regulation.
Groh finished with 34 saves for Alabama-Huntsville, while Palmisano made 28 in his end for the Spartans.
The teams will face off again on Saturday at 7 p.m.
NOTES: Michigan State played an overtime contest for the third time in its five games ... Michigan State has scored three or more goals in four of its five games, and four goals three times this season ... The Spartans had 38 shots, tying its previous season high set in a 4-4 tie with Maine (Oct. 14) ... Jake Chelios recorded his second goal of the season, and now has markers in back-to-back games ... Daultan Leveille and Brett Perlini each potted his third of the season, a team best ... Matt Crandell had a two-assist effort. He had three two-assist games in his sophomore season ...
