Michigan State University
Lake Superior State
MSU Falls to Lakers, 5-4
10/14/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Oct. 14, 2011
Final Stats | Video Highlights
Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. - A goal by senior Domenic Monardo with 71 seconds remaining was the difference, as it broke a 4-4 tie and gave Lake Superior a 5-4 victory over Michigan State in its home opener. The Spartans rallied from a two-goal deficit in the first period to twice tie the game in the third frame, but the backbreaker late in the game sent MSU to its second loss of the season. Brett Perlini had a goal and two helpers, while Chris Forfar and Torey Krug each had a goal and an assist for the Spartans (1-2-0, 0-1-0 CCHA).
"I'm sure that the fans were entertained tonight," said head coach Tom Anastos. "There were a lot of goals scored. I thought we worked really hard to get goals. Credit to LSSU, because they played well and went to the net hard. But, I thought from our standpoint, their goals went in too easy - and we need to find a way to change that. We need to tighten up."
The game-winner came with 1:11 on the clock remaining in regulation. The goal as the teams fought for a loose puck in the crease area; Domenic Mondardo put back a shot by Chris Ciotti, a high shot that went over the blocker hand of Yanakeff. The Spartans had a pair of looks in the final minute of play deep in their offensive zone, but Laker goalie Kevin Kapalka held on for the win.
The Laker victory snaps a four-game MSU unbeaten streak in this series.
The start of the game was postponed by an hour due to a traffic accident on the Mackinac Bridge which held up traffic for hours and delayed the game officials from arriving in Sault Ste. Marie for the scheduled 7:05 puck drop.
MSU started the game fast, as Brett Perlini got the Spartans on the board in the first shift. Perlini barreled up the right side with the puck and took a shot from just inside the right circle, which bounced off the glove-hand shoulder of goalie Kevin Kapalka and bounced into the back of the net. The home team knotted the score midway through the period, as Kyle Jean went low, glove-side to beat Yanakeff off assists from Zach Trotman and Kyle Haines. Jean got his second of the period on a play which began with a puck flipped high out of the neutral zone for Jean; it bounced through the high slot, and a footrace to the puck between Jean and Yanakeff was won by the forward, who poke-checked it into an open net for the 2-1 lead.
The Lakers made a strong bid for a larger lead at the intermission, but Yanakeff made some impressive stops - including a toe save on Nick McPartland on the left post - to preserve the one-goal defecit at the first intermission.
The Spartans opened the second period with 70 seconds of man advantage, but struggled to put together sustained offensive pressure on that power play. On the second shift after killing off the penalty, Fred Cassiani got the puck from Sternberg at the right hash and backhanded the puck past Yanakeff for a 3-1 advantage.
MSU countered at 12:46 to pull within a goal. Greg Wolfe had the puck behind the goal line, and got it to Dean Chelios in front. Chelios had to dig at the puck and was knocked down, but he kept fighting for the puck and got it past Kapalka.
The third period started with an early power play for the Spartans, as Kellan Lain hauled down Jake Chelios on a rush up the left side. Just 15 seconds into the power play, Chris Forfar crashed the net, taking a pass from Torey Krug and forcing Kapalka to make a save. Forfar got his stick on the rebound and poked it through Kapalka's five hole for his first goal of the season and a tie ballgame.
Things came fast and furious in a 22-second period, starting at 11:36 when Jean completed by his hat trick with a snipe from the top of the left circle on a three-on-two rush. On the ensuing faceoff, when Kevin Czuczman hauled down Wolfe on a trip as he broke into the offensive zone. Thirteen seconds into that power play, Torey Krug took a pass from Matt Berry, got the defender to commit, skated around him, and shot through traffic. Krug's shot found its mark, tying the game once again. The teams traded penalties late in the frame, but both had expired and the teams were back to five-on-five when the eventual game-winner was scored.
The teams will face off again on Saturday evening in a 7:05 start.
