Michigan State University
Michigan
Spartans Fall to Michigan at Soldier Field
2/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
CHICAGO - In the fourth all-time outdoor matchup between Michigan State and Michigan, the 14th-ranked Wolverines defeated the Spartans, 4-1, on Saturday night in the Hockey City Classic at Soldier Field.
The start of Saturday's game was delayed one hour and 40 minutes due to poor ice conditions and when it finally got started it was the Wolverines that struck early. Michael Downing found the back of the net just 1:43 into the game and the Wolverines added a pair of second-period goals before the Spartans got on the board in the third with a goal by Matt DeBlouw.
"I thought they did a better job of managing the game than we did," MSU head coach Tom Anastos said. "They were better at creating danger in front of our net and ultimately created some goals. I thought they were just better tonight."
The Wolverines (16-8, 8-2 Big Ten) took a 1-0 lead 1:43 into the first period when Downing beat Jake Hildebrand with a slap shot near the top of the left circle.
It was the first of two Michigan goals that came off screens in front of the net that Hildebrand was unable to see.
"I was trying to look around guys and I couldn't find the puck on either one," Hildebrand said. "When they throw pucks and bodies in front, it makes the goalie's job tough."
The Spartans (10-12-2, 4-4-2-2) had a couple of good scoring chances in the opening period, none better than Joe Cox's point-blank wrister from the left circle that goaltender Zach Naglevoort corralled.
Michigan extended its lead with two goals in a 4:31 span late in the second period.
Cutler Martin made it 2-0 at the 13:16 mark when his shot from the high slot got through traffic and past Hildebrand down low.
The Wolverines upped their lead to 3-0 with 2:13 to play in the second when Andrew Copp banged home a loose puck. Hildebrand appeared to have the puck frozen, but Copp swiped at it and put it into the net.
Michigan State made it 3-1 5:51 into the third period courtesy of DeBlouw, who scored his second goal in as many games. Hard work deep in the U-M zone by Matt Berry and Mackenzie MacEachern got the puck to DeBlouw out front, who didn't miss from just off the crease to Nagelvoort's right.
The Spartans wouldn't come any closer as Justin Selman sealed the U-M win with an empty netter with 1:12 to play.
The ice conditions made offensive chances a challenge throughout the game, however the two teams still managed to combine for nearly 70 shots on goal. MSU outshot U-M in the first, 11-10, but the Wolverines finished with a 37-32 edge, including by a 15-9 margin in their two-goal second period.
"The puck was bouncing all night and you have to play a very simplistic game. We talked about it all week and prepared for it and I thought they executed that better than we did," Anastos said.
Both teams went 0-for-3 on the power play.
The Spartans will host Penn State next weekend at Munn Ice Arena in a two-game series beginning on Friday.
