Michigan State University
Alaska
Spartans Fall at Alaska, 4-1
2/19/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Feb. 19, 2011
Fairbanks, Alaska - Scott Enders scored two third-period goals and also had an assist to break open a tight game as Alaska skated to a 4-1 win over MSU on Friday night. Daultan Leveille broke up the shutout with less than two minutes remaining in regulation for Michigan State, which struggled through a string of near-misses throughout the final two periods after a slow start to the game. Will Yanakeff made 26 saves.
"They had great start, but I thought that we came back and played much better in the second period," said head coach Rick Comley. "We took that penalty in the third, and our inability to kill that off opened the gates for them. I thought Yanakeff played pretty well, but their goalie really did, too. We have to keep plugging away - to stay upbeat and try to get a road win tomorrow. "
The Spartans have dropped four straight games, the longest losing streak of the season. MSU is 12-17-4 overall, and 8-15-2-0 in conference play. Alaska evens its overall record at 13-13-5, 10-12-5-3 in the CCHA.
The home team took the lead at 6:34; a screened Will Yanakeff was beaten on a left-point shot by Carlo Finnucci, with an assist credited to former Spartan Adam Henderson. The Spartans had a couple of chances - Kevin Walrod on a tip in front midway through the period, and Chris Forfar hit the post in the waning moments of the frame. The story of the period was Yanakeff, however, as he made 13 saves compared to Scott Greenham's four at the other end.
Despite no scoring for either team in the second period, the Spartans had the better of play, outshooting their hosts 14-9. Brett Perlini and Dustin Gazley each had great chances that just missed, and Greenham stood tall in the Nanook crease.
Andy Taranto gave the home team a bit of breathing room with a power-play goal 7:32 into the third period. The puck took a funny bounce off the end boards, and Taranto was able to one-time the puck high glove-side on Yanakeff. It was the sophomore's ninth tally of the year. A minute later, Enders scored on a shot from the left point, and his second marker came at 14:10 off a faceoff in the right dot to give the Nanooks a 4-0 lead. Leveille broke up the shutout for Greenham at 18:32, firing a shot from the bottom of the right circle off a pass from Dean Chelios; Zach Josepher was also credited with the assist.
The teams close out their four-game season series tomorrow evening; the puck drops at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks at 11:05 p.m. eastern.
NOTES: The Spartan losing streak has reached four games, the longest streak since a five-game skid at the end of the 2008-09 season ... MSU allowed three goals in the third period to the Nanooks, the second time in three games and the fourth time this season the Spartans have watched an opponent score three times in the final frame ... MSU's loss snapped a three-game unbeaten streak against Alaska (1-0-2) ... MSU has failed to win in each of its last three games at the Carlson Center (0-2-1) ... MSU was 0-for-2 on the power play, while Alaska converted one of three chances ...Daultan Leveille scored his first goal in six games. He last lit the lamp against Ferris State on Jan. 27 ... Dean Chelios extended his career-best point-scoring streak to four games ... All six of Zach Josepher's assists this season have come since Jan. 27 (seven games) .... Will Yanakeff made 26 saves, but suffered his third straight loss after a 4-0-1 stretch ...
