Hockey Final: No. 12 Michigan State falls to No. 6 Michigan, 2-1
Ann Arbor, Mich. – Despite out shooting the Wolverines 38-27, Adam Nightingale’s Michigan State squad fell just short at Yost Ice Arena, 2-1.
“That was a gutsy effort, for sure,” Nightingale said after the game. “I thought it was a pretty even first. I thought we kind of tilted the ice starting in the second. I thought we were really good in the third. Super proud of the guys. It’s a tough, obviously, rink to play in and to push like that… I was proud of them.”
Michigan State defeated Michigan 2-1 at Munn Ice Arena on Friday night, as the Spartans broke a six-game losing streak the Wolverines. On Saturday at Yost, the Spartans trailed by two goals in the third-period and were unable to stage a comeback.
Senior Jagger Joshua (6-3, 210, Dearborn, Mich.) tallied Michigan State’s lone goal in the dire seconds of the third period. Joshua tipped in the rebound after a point-shot from junior defenseman Nash Nienhuis (5-10, 185, Sarnia, Ont.) bounced to the side of the crease. Senior Nicolas Muller picked up the second assist on Joshua’s seventh goal of the season.
“You could tell in the third period that we had a ton left in the tank,” Nightingale said. “That’s a testament to the way you’re practicing and the guys buying into it. It’s good for them to see that because we got to keep pushing it.”
Freshman T.J. Hughes, who scored Michigan’s only goal in last night’s matchup at Munn Ice Arena, put Michigan up 2-0 late in the second period. Senior defenseman Keaton Pehrson and freshman Rutger McGroarty were credited with the assists on Hughes’ goal.
Michigan State’s leading scorer Daniel Russell (5-9, 160, Traverse City, Mich.) had a golden opportunity on a breakaway during the second period. Russell, who was assessed a tripping penalty two minutes prior, found himself behind the Michigan defense after exiting the penalty box. Michigan junior goalie Erik Portillo made a sprawling save with an outstretched right leg on Russell’s shot.
Russell, a second-generation Spartan, has six goals and 13 assists during a breakout freshman campaign, leading Michigan State’s top line. Kerry Russell, Daniel’s father, played for Michigan State from 1987-91.
Michigan opened the scoring midway through the first period on a powerplay goal after Michigan State was caught with too many players on the ice. Sophomore Dylan Duke capitalized on the shorthanded Spartans giving the Wolverines a 1-0 lead. Duke’s goal was assisted by sophomore Luke Hughes and junior Jacob Truscott.
It was Duke’s 10th goal of the season.
“It’s too many man,” Nightingale said. “You know, those seem to find their way to go in the net. We got to do a better job being aware when we are changing… I thought our (penalty) kill was good.”
Duke was also involved in a disallowed goal late in the third period. Michigan’s Luke Hughes fired shot from the Spartans’ blue line. The goal was waved-off after it was ruled that Duke was in the crease and interfered with Dylan St. Cyr (5-8, 167, Northville, Mich.).
Last night’s hero, St. Cyr finished with 24 saves, while his counterpart, Portillo, finished with 37 saves on the night.
“I just told them really, really good first half,” Nightingale says he told his team heading into winter break. “We came to this rink last year and lost eight-nothing. We’re growing as a team every week. We are finding ways to keep improving. And we got to keep that going.”
Michigan State will look to exact revenge on February 10 and 11 when the two teams play for the second of three weekend series this season. Friday’s game will take place at Munn Ice Arena and air on Bally Sports. Little Caesars Arena will play host for Saturday’s game, which will air on ESPNU.
