Michigan State University
Bowling Green
Spartans Finish Second in CCHA Race
2/27/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Feb. 27, 2010
Bowling Green, Ohio - Despite skating to a 2-2 tie and losing the extra shootout point, Michigan State locked up second place in the CCHA regular season on Saturday night at Bowling Green. The Spartans, who were eighth and ninth in the pre-season conference polls, finished one point ahead of Ferris State and will now await its playoff opponent when the team hosts a quarterfinal round at Munn Ice Arena March 12-14.
Chris Forfar got the equalizing tally for Michigan State (19-11-6, 14-8-6-2 CCHA), who also got a goal from Andrew Rowe in the opening period. Drew Palmisano made 32 saves for Michigan State between the pipes. The Spartans, who finished an uncharacteristic 10th last season, executed the largest one-season turnaround in CCHA history, improving eight spots in the conference standings.
Michigan State opened the scoring at 8:23 while skating on the power play. Dustin Gazley dished to Nick Sucharski up at the left point, and the senior launched a shot netward that was tipped at the far post by Andrew Rowe.
The homestanding Falcons tied the game early in the second, also on the man advantage. Tomas Petruska found David Solway in the right circle, and he one-timed it past Palmisano's glove hand.
The Falcons took their first lead of the weekend at 3:36 of the final period. With Torey Krug in the ox on an interference call, it took few seconds off the faceoff for Jordan Samuels-Thomas to get to Palmisano's glove-side again for a 2-1 lead.
The Spartans got the equalizer at the 15-minute mark. Hard work from the fourth line kept the puck deep in the BG zone for an extended period; the puck was out at the left point with Krug, and Trevor Nill had the goaltender screened. Nill tipped the puck, and Forfar was able to finish the play with his sixth goal of the season.
The teams went to a shootout, and all three MSU offerings went wide - Corey Tropp, Andrew Rowe, and Dean Chelios. Drew Palmisano made two saves on the first two BG shooters, but senior Tomas Petruska got the shootout winner in the final shot.
