Michigan
4-6-0 (2-4-0CCHA)
Michigan State
9-2-1 (6-1-1CCHA)
Wolverines Blanked by No. 14 Michigan State
11/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
Nov. 14, 2009
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Site: East Lansing, Mich. (Munn Ice Arena)
Score: #14 Michigan State 2, #6 Michigan 0
Records: U-M (4-6-0, 2-3-0-0 CCHA), Michigan State (9-2-1, 6-1-1-0 CCHA)
Attendance: 7,099
Next U-M Event: Friday, Nov. 20 -- vs. Bowling Green (Yost Ice Arena), 7:35 p.m.
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The No. 6-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team was shut out 2-0 by Michigan State (No. 14 USA Today/No. 13 USCHO) on Saturday (Nov. 14) at Munn Ice Arena. The loss marks the first time the Wolverines have been swept by MSU since dropping a weekend series to the Spartans on Feb. 20-21, 1998.
By the end of the game, Michigan registered 31 shots -- 12 more shots than Michigan State -- but the scoreboard did not reflect the large shot differential. The Wolverines were given ample opportunities to score with the Spartans spending 12 minutes in the penalty box, but Michigan's power-play woes continued into this game as the Wolverines went 0-for-6 with the man-advantage.
The Wolverines generated nine shots in the opening frame, including a shot that hit the upper-right post two minutes into the game in addition to a shot from center Louie Caporusso (Woodbridge, Ontario) that went off the pipe with about six minutes left in the frame. Despite outshooting the Spartans in the first period, it was MSU that got on the scoreboard first when a U-M player coughed up the puck, leaving just two Wolverines back in their zone when Michigan State's Mike Merriffield grabbed the puck and took a shot on goal from just above the crease. The left wing collected his rebound and wrapped the puck around the net before dishing it to center Chris Forfar, who flicked a shot into the back of the cage at the 12:58 mark for the 1-0 lead.
Michigan remained scoreless in the second period despite having two power-play opportunities and unleashing 15 shots on goal. The Maize and Blue got off five consecutive shots in a span of about 45 seconds halfway through the middle stanza, including a blast from defenseman Lee Moffie (Wallingford, Conn.) at the point that glanced off the post, but MSU netminder Drew Palmisano was unrelenting in net.
One minute and 12 seconds into the final period, the Spartans extended their lead with a marker from left wing Andrew Rowe. Intercepting a U-M pass, right wing Dustin Gazley carried the puck toward the right side of the U-M net and attempted to pass the puck to Rowe, who was camped out alone on the left side of the crease. Michigan goaltender Bryan Hogan (Highland, Mich.) managed to get his stick on the pass, but the puck still found its way to Rowe for an easy goal.
Michigan had three power-play chances in the third period but could not generate any high-quality scoring opportunities to get itself back into the game.
The Wolverines will return to Ann Arbor next Friday (Nov. 20) when Michigan hosts Bowling Green at Yost Ice Arena. The game is scheduled to start at 7:35 p.m.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
