The Michigan State Spartans (1-0-1) wore down the Lake Superior State Lakers and broke open what was a tie game after the first period to take a 4-1 victory in Saturday’s early game at the Ice Breaker tournament in Portland, Maine.
Michigan State opened the scoring when Michael Ferrantino took a rebound of a Zach Osburn shot and placed it perfectly on the top shelf. Lake Superior answered less than four minutes later as Gage Torrel was left all alone in the slot and easily slid the puck past a helpless Jake Hildebrand.
The Spartans capitalized on its fifth power play of the night when Mackenzie MacEachern teamed up with Mason Appleton and Travis Walsh to put Michigan State ahead to stay at 11:54 of the second period.
They extended the lead to 3-1 just 12 seconds into the final frame when John Draeger surprised Gordon Defiel with a quick shot from the point through a screen set by MacEachern. Mason Appleton picked up his third assist of the weekend on the goal.
Lake Superior almost had one back as Bryce Schmitt put a puck behind Hildebrand, but it was cleared off the line before going into the net. That was the end for a demoralized and exhausted Lake Superior State team, as they appeared to sleepwalk through the rest of the third period.
It became 4-1 moments after the Spartans completed an 18th power play of the weekend, as J.T. Stenglein skated across the goal mouth and beat Defiel with 7:18 remaining to complete the scoring for the game.
Lake Superior State drops to 0-2 on the season, but coach Damon Whitten remains optimistic.
“We are heading in the right direction,” he said after the loss, echoing the sentiment he expressed less than 24 hours earlier following a setback at the hands of North Dakota. “This is a real tournament atmosphere, like a regional or the Final Five.”
Senior Captain Austin McKay said he believed this experience would pay dividends in the future.
“It was a great tournament, great atmosphere,” and he enjoyed being in the national spotlight at a tournament like this.
Spartans coach Tom Anastos expressed his satisfaction at leaving undefeated, but sees room for improvement.
“We had chances to win last night but we didn’t. Tonight we finished those chances.”
Travis Walsh said he had “mixed feelings” about the weekend coming to a conclusion. He grew up in Maine, the son of legendary coach Shawn Walsh, and this is the home of his new bride.
“It was great to come back, wonderful to play here in a city like Portland. It is an experience that will help the team moving forward, but now we focus on Denver next weekend.”
For his part, Hildebrand thought he could have played better, remarking that “the team played great in front of me,” especially during the penalty kills.
Michigan State staved off 11 of 12 power plays this weekend, and while he may have been hard on himself, the saying in hockey is that you need your goalie to be your best penalty killer.
“He played outstanding,” responded his coach, as he patted his senior netminder on the shoulder.
Next weekend, the Spartans travel to Denver for a pair against the No. 5 Pioneers. Lake Superior plays old friend Northern Michigan.