Michigan State University
Bowling Green
Spartans Beat Bowling Green, 5-1
12/2/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Dec. 2, 2011
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East Lansing, Mich. - Four players had a goal and an assist and senior blueliner Matt Crandell had three helpers as No. 16 MSU downed Bowling Green, 5-1, in the first game of a two-game set at Munn Ice Arena. The Spartans improve to 9-5-1, ( 5-4-0 CCHA), and are unbeaten in their last three games. Drew Palmisano made 21 saves.
The Spartans continued their run of scoring early in games, as Kevin Walrod's shot from just below the left hash mark gave the Spartans a 1-0 lead when the game was just 20 seconds old. Dean Chelios scored his first goal since returning after an injury, holding the puck after a pass from Brent Darnell for an extra second to get the goalie to commit before having a wide-open right side for his third goal of the season.
The lead was cut in half as Falcon freshman Ted Pletsch scored on a long slapshot from the left wall at 17:44, his first collegiate tally. That sent the teams into the dressing rooms with a 2-1 score.
The Spartans put one on the board early in the second period as well. MSU opened the period with a power play, thanks to a too many men call against the Falcons. The advantage was negated when Matt Berry was whistled for tripping, but soon thereafter a nice pass into the neutral zone by Walrod sent Perlini in alone on Andrew Hammond shorthanded. Perlini's first offering was saved by the junior, but Perlini put back his own rebound, his fourth tally of the season. The Spartans added a fourth goal with just over two minutes remaining in the frame, as Tim Buttery's blast from the right point was tipped in front by Berry.
The Spartans tacked on a fifth goal in the waning moments of the third, as Brent Darnell popped in a loose puck at the left post.
Palmisano, making his third straight start after watching Will Yanakeff go four straight prior, had to make just five saves in the third period. Hammond's busiest period was the third frame, facing 15 shots after seeing just six in each of the first two periods.
The teams will face off again on Saturday. Puck drops at 6:05 p.m.
NOTES: MSU has extended its unbeaten streak to three games, and is 8-2-1 in the last 11 games ... MSU scored its second shorthanded goal in three games. Kevin Walrod scored one against Minnesota last Friday, and Brett Perlini got one this evening ... Freshmen Matt Berry and Brent Darnell have a point in three of the last four games ... Matt Crandell had three assists, his third multiple-point game of the season. He had three multiple-point games in his first three varsity seasons ...
