Spartans outshot Wildcats 45-24
MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Wildcat hockey team was tied 2-2 with the squad in the nation after two periods of play before ultimately dropping game two of the weekend series against the #1/1 Michigan State Spartans, 6-2.
The Spartans (5-1-0, 0-0-0 B1G) jumped out to an early lead just a few minutes into the period before adding a second just over halfway through the frame, carrying a two-goal lead thanks to a pair of tallies from Tommi Mannisto into the first intermission. The lead would have been 3-0 were it not for a successful offside challenge from Dave Shyiak and his coaching staff.
The Wildcats (0-8-0, 0-0-0 CCHA) scored a minute and a half into the second period on a carryover power play before evening up the contest at 2-2 just six minutes later. Similar to the Spartans in the first period, both Wildcat goals were scored by one person. Caiden Gault added his third and fourth tallies of the season, both assisted by Kyle Bettens. NMU outshot the Spartans 12-9 in the middle frame, and won 12 draws to MSU’s nine.
After a pair of failed power play attempts from the Wildcats, the Spartans retook the lead on a man-advantage opportunity of its own six and a half minutes into the final period, thanks to Daniel Russell. Goals from Porter Martone and Tiernan Shoudy, just 15 seconds apart at the halfway point in the final frame, gave MSU a three-goal cushion before Shoudy added his second goal of the night into the empty net.
The game ended with a scrum for the ages, as there were 23 minutes of penalties called between five players on both sides, including a five-minute major and a ten-minute misconduct, after a review that took upwards of ten minutes to sort out. There were a total of 51 penalty minutes on 20 infractions, with MSU being whistled for 12 of the 20 penalties and 35 of the 51 minutes. This marks the first time since 2019 where NMU and its opponent have combined for 20+ penalties and 50+ penalty minutes (Nov. 23, 2019, vs Michigan Tech at the Berry Events Center; 20 combined penalties, 62 minutes). The B.E.C. record for penalties in one game is 24 (vs. Michigan Tech, 2/17/2005).
For the game, the Spartans outshot the Wildcats 45-24, including 81 attempts to NMU’s 44, with both teams scoring one power play goal (NMU, 1/8; MSU, 1/4), with Michigan State’s empty net goal coming as a short-handed tally. The Wildcats held an advantage in the faceoff dot, winning 36 to 33, as well as blocking 18 shots to the Spartans’ 10.
Freshman goaltender and 2023 Columbus Blue Jacket draft pick, Melvin Strahl, made 22 saves for a .917 SV% to pick up a win in his collegiate debut.
How It Happened
The Spartans thought they opened the scoring early in the game, but a successful challenge from assistant coach Ben Russel saw the goal called back, and the game remained scoreless.
The Spartans would eventually take the lead not long after, as Mannisto capitalized on a bouncing puck that hit multiple shin pads before landing on his stick in the slot, and he fired a wicked wrister past the glove of Auyeung-Ashton.
Mannisto would tally his second goal of the night directly off the faceoff dot to the blocker side of Auyeung-Ashton. Shoudy won the draw directly back to Mannisto, who fired a laser past the far-side ear of the Northern netminder, doubling the lead halfway through the period.
The Wildcats cut into the Spartan lead on fresh ice after some carryover time on a man-advantage. Bettens won a battle on the near-side boards, slid a pass to Ewart, who found Gault all alone in the right faceoff circle. Gault’s one-timer beat Strahl over the pad and below the blocker on the far side.
Michigan State thought they scored on the man-advantage, but once again, it was the Wildcats who successfully challenged the zone entry for offsides, and the NMU coaching staff wiped a goal off the board again.
The ‘Cats tied the game with just over 12 minutes remaining in the second period. A Spartan clear attempt landed on the stick of Bettens, who fired a shot from the right side wall just above the circle. His shot went wide, took a wild bounce off the back wall, and landed on the stick of Gault on the near side post. Gault beat Strahl on the far side from in tight.
After back-to-back failed Wildcat power plays, the Spartans would convert on a chance of their own. Martone caused a turnover behind the net, Stramel walked to the side and slid a pass to a wide-open Russell, who picked his spot over the stick-side shoulder of Auyeung-Ashton.
After the media timeout, the Spartans regained its two-goal lead after Martone redirected a shot from the point. 15 seconds later, Mannisto beat out an icing before sliding a pass to Shoudy, who made a move to the forehand and beat Auyeung-Ashton.
