Spartans Tie, Win Shootout in Fairbanks

Feb. 7, 2010

Fairbanks, Alaska - Michigan State and Alaska skated to a 1-1 tie on Saturday night in Fairbanks, and Michigan State gained the extra point in the league standings with a win in the ensuing shootout. Corey Tropp had MSU's lone goal in regulation, while sophomore Drew Palmisano made 28 saves and an additional two in the shootout to enable the Spartans to come away from the game with two of three points.

Box Score

MSU had a loss and tie on the road trip and are now 17-10-5, 12-7-5-2 in the CCHA. MSU has a three-point lead over third-place Ferris State in the conference standings heading into its bye week

"He hasn't had luck in the shootout, and [sophomore goalie Drew] Palmisano came up with some big saves for us," noted head coach Rick Comley after the game "It's a good two points for us, and we'll get a bit of a break to recharge with a bye week. "

In that shootout, Drew Palmisano allowed a goal to the first shooter (Ryan Hohl) , even though he got a piece of Hohl's offering with his glove. He then made big saves on Andy Taranto and Dion Knelsen, while at the other end, Corey Tropp and Andrew Rowe each scored as MSU's first two shooters.

While all of Friday's scoring came in the second period, it was the first period on Saturday where each team completed the evening's scoring. The home team got on the board first, as Dion Knelsen got his third goal of the weekend and 15th of the season when the puck came back to him on a faceoff in the offensive zone and he managed to beat Drew Palmisano.

The Spartans, who were held off the board the previous evening, were anxious to get on the board, and scored a big power-play goal in the final minute of that opening frame to head into the intermission with a tie score. Corey Tropp rang the post with a laser just a few seconds into MSU's man advantage, but shortly thereafter Jeff Petry launched a powerful shot from the left circle which Tropp tipped in front at 19:27. Zach Josepher was also credited with an assist.

NOTES: Michigan State has picked up at least one point in each of its CCHA weekends this season ... The Nanooks limited MSU to just one goal on the weekend, the lowest scoring output for MSU in a weekend this season ... Michigan State went to overtime for the eighth time in the 2009-10 season and is 2-1-5 in those games ... Spartans have not allowed a power play goal in their last three games (10-for-10) and are 18-for-20 since the start of the Michigan series ... Corey Tropp's 20th goal of the season came in the final minute of the first period. MSU has scored 11 times in the first or final minute of a period this season, compared to just three times for their opponents ...Troppp's tally was MSU's 100th of the season ... Tropp and Andrew Rowe had MSUs two shootout goals ...