No. 1-ranked Michigan State knows all about shutouts. Most of the time, they are on the winning side of them. But for almost 60 minutes Sunday, it appeared the Spartans would get a taste of their own medicine.
Almost.
Andrew Bogle scored with just five seconds left in regulation to tie the game, and Rustyn Dolyny scored the game winner with 20 seconds remaining in overtime, as the Spartans defeated Lake Superior, 2-1, on Sunday, extending their unbeaten streak to 20 games. The game was rescheduled from Saturday, when a zamboni stalled, casuing ice problems and forcing a postponement.
The Spartans haven’t lost since Oct. 20, a 2-1 defeat at home to Nebraska-Omaha. They are 17-0-3 in that stretch, and have allowed just 22 goals.
MSU goalie Ryan Miller, who came into the game riding three straight shutouts, finally allowed a goal at 17:28 of the second period, by the Lakers’ Kyle Anderson. That ended Miller’s shutout streak at 182 minutes, 4 seconds.
Anderson’s goal, which gave his team a 1-0 lead, also ended a scoreless streak for Lake Superior of 227:26 dating back to the third period of its 5-4 loss at the Mariucci Classic to Minnesota on Dec. 30. The Lakers have lost five in a row.
“We generated some great chances. Ryan Miller played well again, but I was pleased with our offense,” said Lake Superior State coach Scott Borek.
It looked for a while like the 1-0 lead would hold up, and the Lakers’ Jayme Platt would turn the tables on Miller with a shutout of his own. But with 4:18 remaining in regulation, LSSU senior Mike Vigilante was given a five-minute major and game misconduct for cross-checking from behind, forcing the Lakers to play shorthanded for the rest of the game. Vigilante’s check injured Spartan freshman Jeremy Jackson.
Still, the penalty killers played well, before Bogle netted the tying goal for Michigan State from the top of the right circle with just five seconds remaining.
“We killed the penalty extremely well. We buckled down and the penalty killing all weekend was outstanding,” said Borek.
“There was a big chance for our team to make a mistake there and we didn’t at all. They pulled the goalie to make it six-on-four, but I thought our penalty killing was outstanding.”
Nonetheless, Borek’s team was going to overtime, still with 42 seconds left on the major penalty. Neither team generated many scoring opportunities during the overtime period, but with 20 seconds remaining, the Spartans ended the game on Dolyny’s goal.
Miller and Platt each recorded 29 saves. Miller’s win was his 17th of the season.
“It was a great goaltending weekend,” said Borek.
“[Ryan] Miller was outstanding. He saved them a couple times both nights and that is what they needed.”
Michigan State improved to 18-1-4 overall (11-1-3 CCHA). Lake Superior dropped to 10-16-0 (6-13-0 CCHA).
“We have to get over the emotional part of the weekend,” Borek said. “We have had two really bad losses. We have lost games like this before, when we have played pretty darn well. I think our players are immensely frustrated right now, but if they can get past the emotional part, I think this will help us play better the rest of the year.”
The Lakers and the Spartans will meet again on Tuesday, Jan. 23 at Munn Ice Arena in East Lansing, Mich.
While the Lakers have this coming weekend off, the Spartans will play host to Miami.
Rebekka Costanzo contributed to this report.
