Nystrom, Montoya Lead U-M to Shutout of Michigan State

Friday, December 5

Ann Arbor, Mich.

7:35 PM

Michigan

10-5-0,6-3-0

Michigan State

8-8-1,6-4-1

Michigan State

Michigan

Nystrom, Montoya Lead U-M to Shutout of Michigan State

12/5/2003 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey

Box Score

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The ninth-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team halted its three-game losing streak with a dramatic 2-0 victory over CCHA rival Michigan State Friday night (Dec. 5) at Yost Ice Arena. Junior Eric Nystrom (Syosset, N.Y.) broke a scoreless tie with the game-winning goal after a faceoff deep in Michigan State's zone with 1:27 remaining in the game, and sophomore goaltender Al Montoya (Glenview, Ill.) made 23 saves to record his third shutout of the season.

Eric Nystrom's first goal in nine career games against MSU was the game-winner.

The Wolverines (10-5-0, 6-3-0 CCHA) generated the first quality scoring opportunity of the night eight minutes into the first period on their first power-play opportunity. The play started when a Michigan defender stationed at the point threw the puck into the Michigan State zone as a number of Wolverines converged on the Spartan net. MSU freshman goaltender Dominic Vicari made the initial save on a tip by Nystrom and after a scrum in front of the net, the Spartans managed to clear the puck out of danger.

Michigan's power-play woes continued as it failed to convert on its second man-advantage midway through the first period. One minute into the penalty, sophomore Brandon Kaleniecki (Livonia, Mich.) found himself with the puck all alone just outside of the Spartan crease. Kaleniecki fired a point-blank shot on the Spartan net, but Vicari made an acrobatic blocker save to keep the Wolverines off the board.

With only four minutes remaining in the period, the Spartans (8-8-1, 6-4-1 CCHA) nearly capitalized on a Wolverine mistake when junior forward Jim Slater stripped a Michigan defender at the Wolverine blue line and skated in on Montoya. As Slater was about to fire a shot on Montoya, junior David Moss (Dearborn, Mich.) knocked the Spartan forward's stick to break up the shot. Moss was whistled for a slashing penalty, but the Wolverines successfully killed off the man advantage.

With only 36 seconds remaining in the first period, the Wolverines appeared to take a 1-0 lead when junior Eric Werner (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.) batted a puck out of the air from behind the MSU goal past Vicari. The goal was disallowed, however, as the referee ruled Werner was guilty of a high-sticking infraction.

Four minutes into the second period, Montoya preserved the 0-0 stalemate as he stuffed both Brock Radunske and Ash Goldie on point-blank opportunities. Fueled by Montoya's strong play, the Wolverines successfully killed a Spartan power play one minute later.

Freshman Mike Brown (Northbrook, Ill.) nearly put the Wolverines on top eight minutes into the second period when he fired a one-time shot off the right post. Junior Dwight Helminen (Brighton, Mich.) initiated the play as he carried the puck down the left side of the Spartan zone and found a streaking Brown with a cross-ice pass. Brown beat Vicari with his shot but was denied by the iron.

The Wolverines continued to put pressure on the Spartan defense for the remainder of the second period but Vicari kept the Wolverines off the board with 10 saves. Through two periods, the Wolverines managed 23 shots on the Spartan net, while MSU had just 13 shots  on target.

Michigan began the third period on a power play but failed to turn the man advantage into a goal for the third time on the night. Nystom created two good scoring opportunities during the power play, but Vicari denied Nystrom on both point-blank shots.

With just over 14 minutes remaining in the game the action reached a fevered pitch as the Wolverines fired a barrage of shots on Vicari in a quick sequence. Vicari managed to keep the puck out of the net with a number of acrobatic saves, including one save with his helmet.

After peppering the Spartan net with a total of 15 shots throughout the third period, Nystrom finally beat Vicari to give the Wolverines a 1-0 lead with 1:27 remaining in the game. Nystrom received the puck in the slot off a faceoff win from Helminen and wristed a shot high over Vicari's left shoulder and into the Spartan net. Nystrom's fourth goal of the year, and first in seven games, proved to be the game-winner.

With just over a minute remaining in the game the Spartans pulled Vicari in one last effort to even the score. As the clock hit zero, freshman T.J. Hensick (Howell, Mich.) sealed the win with an empty-net goal.

The Maize and Blue travels to East Lansing, Mich., tomorrow night (Saturday, Dec. 6) for the final leg of the home-and-home series with Michigan State. Opening faceoff at Munn Ice Arena is scheduled for 7:05.

Contact: Andrew Ladd (734) 763-4423