Michigan State University
Northern Michigan
Neil's Notebook: Defense Key to Spartan Victory
1/15/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Jan. 15, 2012
By Neil Koepke, MSUSpartans.com staff writer
Five goals were not enough to get a victory on Friday night.
But two goals on Saturday were just the right number to carry Michigan State to its first victory at Munn Arena in the last five games.
Finally, there were no last-minute breakdowns, bad breaks or frustration as the Spartans used the work-hard-and-play-responsible-defense formula in a 2-1 victory over Northern Michigan in front of an energetic crowd of 6,210 at Munn Arena.
"I was really proud how hard we played defensively,'' MSU coach Tom Anastos said. "That's how we have to play to give ourselves a chance to win against good teams like this.''
For the third time in the last five games, the Spartans (12-9-3 overall, 7-7-2-2 CCHA) took a one-goal lead into the final minute of the third period.
This time, MSU's defensemen and forwards were in right spots and made solid, smart plays in bottling up the Wildcats and not allowing many quality chances before claiming a much-needed CCHA victory.
"What we were trying to do was move the puck out of our zone quickly so we didn't get into situations where they could establish a forecheck and use their size to wear us down,'' Anaastos said. "We did an effective job with that.''
In Friday's bizarre series opener, the Spartans overcame a 2-0 deficit and took control, building leads of 4-2 and 5-3. But Northern Michigan also fought back, trimming its deficit to 5-4 with a late-second period goal and tying it with 26 left in the third period.
MSU managed to win the shootout, 1-0, to earn two points in CCHA play, but still felt disappointed at not getting a victory.
On Saturday, the Spartans had more energy and were much stronger as a team on defense in a game in which goals were a premium.
"We battled absolutely every minute. There was no question that we worked as hard as we can for the whole game,'' Spartan junior defenseman and captain Torey Krug said.
MSU sophomore goaltender Will Yanakeff got the start and he responded with a solid effort and made a few big-time stops among his 23 saves.
"The third period was great,'' Yanakeff said of his team's defensive play. "One one of the things that we've been stressing is our play in the defensive zone and it's been paying off. They didn't have that many shots, and we blocked a lot of shots and moved pucks out of trouble. The third period was our best in the defensive zone.''
Yankeff, playing in only his second game in the last seven, was sharp and solid in stopping first shots and was in control of most rebounds.
"Pucks were bouncing off his body to the right spots. He looked poised and comfortable,'' Anastos said. "He had a real good game.''
While the story of the game was defense, it was only fitting that a defenseman scored the game-winner midway through the second period.
Brock Shelgren cruised in from the right point and was in the right spot in the slot to retrieve a rebound off a shot by Krug, and then went to his left and his backhand to slide the puck through a screen and under goalie Jared Coreau at 8:02 and give the Spartans a 2-1 lead.
MSU missed a great opportunity to put the game out of reach when it found itself on a 5-on-3 power play for two full minutes at 6:57 of the third period. The Spartans moved the puck around the perimeter but had a few shots blocked and could never get it in close in an attempt to outnumber the Wildcats.
That opened the door for NMU to try to seize momentum, but the Spartans gave up very little in the final eight minutes as MSU fans watched nervously to see if another late lead was about to disappear.
"I thought we were going to close it out and get the win. I've had confidence all season and confidence about Friday night,'' Krug said. "Will was great and the guys worked hard pulled through in the end.
"It was a fun game to play in. The crowd was great again, the students were awesome and the band is the best in the league.''
Anastos, who also raved about the atmosphere in the building and the student support, complimented the entire defensive unit and was especially impressed by play of sophomore Jake Chelios.
"Jake had an outstanding game. His game has been emerging and we've wanted to give him more ice time. He got it tonight,'' Anastos said. "He really stepped up his game and it's nice to have his size (6-foot-2, 190 pounds) back there.
"He's got a lot of poise. With the puck, I get a kick out of some of the plays he makes because he's poised. He puts the puck in the right spots and defensively, his game keeps coming and coming.''
The Spartans' ability to use four lines was another factor in keeping the Wildcats in check and limiting their chances late in the third period when they applied some pressure in the MSU zone.
"We had very good jump tonight. We were able to go with four lines almost all game,'' anastos said. "It saves energy if we keep our shifts quick and short.''
For the fourth straight game, the Spartans gave up the first goal as Matt Thurber of NMU converted a centering pass at 4:48 of the first period.
MSU got it back on freshman right wing Matt Berry's sixth goal of the season at 15:48 of the opening period.
"Other than the second game of the Miami series, when they got the goal to go up 2-0 early in the third period, I think we've handed goals against really well,'' Anastos said. "We've been poised and not let it get to us. I like the way our team approaches things.''
PENALTY-KILLING SOLID: The MSU-NMU series finale was fairly chippy in stretches, with some after-the-whistle jabs, pokes, pushes and chirps, but there weren't a lot penalties handed out by Referees Kevin LanGseth and Mathew Miller.
The Spartans took the first three penalties and the Wildcats had only one through the first two periods. MSU had to kill off another NMU power play starting just 36 seconds into the final period. The Wildcats had only four shots on goal during eight minute of power-play time.
Early in the third period, MSU's Dean Chelios and Scott Macaulay of NMU were called for slashing.
The Wildcats had the last three penalties. Andrew Cherniwchan was assessed a five-minute major and game misconduct for contact to the head at 6:57. A minute later, NMU's Reed Seckel was called for elbowing, gave MSU a 5-on-3 for two minutes.
For the second straight night, both teams failed to score a power-play goal. On Friday, each team was 0-for-3.
LINEUP CHANGE: Freshman right wing Tanner Sorenson was back in the lineup on Saturday, while senior center Daultan Leveille was a healthy scratch. Sorenson moved to a line with Anthony Hayes at center and Chris Forfar on left wing. Trevor Nill, who's been on right wing with Hayes and Forfar, moved to a line centered by rookie Brent Darnell, with Dean Chelios on left wing.
Anastos said Hayes and Forfar were among the Spartans' best forwards on Saturday and in the series.
TAKE THAT, `CATS: Earning five of six points with a tie and victory over Northern Michigan was especially satisfying for the Spartans, who have been tormented a bit by the Wildcats the last few seasons.
NMU came into the series with a 9-3-1 edge over MSU since March, 2008. The Wildcats were 2-3-2 at Munn Arena during this stretch and had won the last three games in East Lansing, including a 4-2, 6-5 sweep last season.
But the Spartans got a split at NMU in November, winning 4-2 and losing 2-1, and thus they win the 2011-12 season series, 2-1-1.
