Nov. 13, 2009

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Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Yost Ice Arena)
Score: #14 Michigan State 3, #6 Michigan 2
Records: U-M (4-5-0, 2-3-0-0 CCHA), Michigan State (8-2-1, 5-1-1-0 CCHA)
Attendance: 6,833
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Nov. 14 -- at Michigan State (East Lansing, Mich.), 7:05 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 6-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team watched its six-game winning streak over in-state rival Michigan State (No. 14 USA Today/No. 13 USCHO) come to an end with a 3-2 loss on Friday (Nov. 13) at Yost Ice Arena.

The Spartans scored first at the 12:12 mark of the first period and the Wolverines' penalty kill kept Michigan in the game through the first 20 minutes of play. Freshman defenseman Lee Moffie (Wallingford, Conn.) recorded the equalizer -- the first goal of his career -- with 7:06 left in the middle frame. Junior left wing Carl Hagelin (Sodertalje, Sweden) brought the Wolverines within one at the 12:07 mark in the final frame after MSU scored two straight, but U-M's comeback bid fell short despite a power play with the goalie pulled with less than a minute to go.

The first whistle blew 14 seconds into the contest when a Michigan defender was called for interference. By the end of the first period, the Maize and Blue had been whistled for four penalties and mustered just three shots on goal.

Michigan's penalty kill, which ranks sixth in the country with an 89.8-percent success rate, saw plenty of ice time and did not allow MSU's power play, ranked ninth in the country, to score with the man-advantage. The most impressive PK effort of the contest was successfully killing a 5-on-3 power play that lasted 1:08 minutes late in the first period.

The Spartans scored the game's first goal with 12:12 remaining in the opening period. Junior netminder Bryan Hogan (Highland, Mich.) went behind the U-M net to settle the puck. A short pass by Hogan to junior defenseman Tristin Llewellyn (Ann Arbor, Mich.) went off the defender's stick and right to MSU left wing Andrew Rowe, who curled around the right goal post and found a wide-open net for the easy tally to give Michigan State a 1-0 lead.

A marker from Moffie evened the game up at one goal apiece and snapped an 82:11 U-M scoring drought with 7:06 left in the second period. Sophomore left wing David Wohlberg (South Lyon, Mich.) battled along the half boards for the puck, sending it along the boards to junior center Matt Rust (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) stationed behind the goal line to the right of the net. Rust then relayed the puck to Moffie, who fired a shot from the inner hash marks of the left faceoff circle that squirted through the five-hole of MSU goaltender Drew Palmisano.

Spartan right wing Corey Tropp broke the stalemate with 3:57 remaining in the middle frame, blasting the puck into the upper-left corner of the net from inside the right faceoff circle, getting the shot just over Hogan's right shoulder to make it a 2-1 game.

Michigan State added to its lead with a tally 1:05 into the final period, which ultimately ended up as the gamewinner. Center Daultan Leveille broke in all alone, rushing up the slot in the U-M zone. Just as he was about to get his shot off, he was tripped from behind and crashed into Hogan. The puck was under Hogan when he was pushed into the cage, forcing the rubber over the goal line. The marker was not originally ruled a goal, but a review of the play awarded MSU the score.

The Wolverines drew one goal closer with a tally from Hagelin at the 12:07 mark in the third period. Freshman right wing Chris Brown (Flower Mound, Texas) brought the puck into the MSU zone, carrying it up the left side along the boards before centering a pass to Hagelin and the Swedish forward found the back of the net, taking a shot from left of the low slot.

U-M had a couple opportunities in the game's waning minutes. Skating on a two-on-one, Rust sent a shot high that was knocked away by Palmisano. With 47 seconds remaining, MSU's captain, Jeff Petry, was sent off for hooking. U-M created two chances off faceoff wins but could not register a shot on goal.

The Wolverines will travel to East Lansing, Mich., to bookend their home-and-home weekend series on Saturday (Nov. 14) against Michigan State at Munn Ice Arena. The puck is set to drop at 7:05 p.m. and will be televised by Comcast (Channel 900 in Michigan only).

Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423