Michigan State University
Minnesota
No. 3/6 Minnesota Blanks Spartans
12/5/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
EAST LANSING, Mich. - No. 3/6 Minnesota used a three-goal first period en route to a 5-0 win over the Michigan State hockey team on Friday night at Munn Ice Arena. All three first-period goals came on special teams - two power play, one short handed - as Minnesota improved to 9-4 overall and 1-0 in the Big Ten.
Minnesota goaltender Adam Wilcox turned away all 24 shots he faced in the shutout effort.
Michigan State (5-9, 1-2) actually outshot Minnesota in the opening period, 10-8, and had several quality scoring chances, including a shot by Villiam Haag that rang off the post. But the Gophers' special teams were lethal, capitalizing on both power plays and sneaking in short-handed goal on the Spartans' man advantage.
"We dug ourselves a hole in the first period," MSU head coach Tom Anastos said. "I thought 5-on-5 we played well and had some good chances, but we gave up goals too easily. As the game went on, we couldn't answer their team.
"We have to put it behind us and regroup and come back with a much better effort tomorrow night."
The first of the three Minnesota goals in a 10:32 span came on the power play at the 3:25 mark as Travis Boyd took a cross-crease pass and swept the puck past Jake Hildebrand with 36 seconds remaining on the MSU penalty.
MSU got its first power play at the 8:09 mark, but it was Minnesota that took advantage of an odd-man situation as Sam Warning put home a rebound off a shot by Michael Brodzinski to make it 2-0.
Twenty seconds into its second power play of the opening stanza, Minnesota made it 3-0. Kyle Rau took a feed from Justin Kloos and entered the MSU zone down with speed down the right side and beat Hildebrand with a backhand from the face-off circle.
Minnesota increased its lead to 4-0 with its only even-strength goal of the night when Mike Reilly scored on his own rebound 3:47 into the second period.
Connor Reilly capped the scoring 13:22 into the third period with shot from the point on a 5-on-3 advantage.
The three power-play goals were the most allowed by the Spartans this season.
"Special teams were the start of our problem tonight. Our penalty kill had been pretty darn good up until tonight," Anastos said.
Minnesota finished with a 28-24 edge in shots on goal.
The two teams will meet again on Saturday at 5 p.m. at Munn Arena.
