Spartans survive unusual goal, top Lakers

By Michael Caples –

EAST LANSING – Tom Anastos called it a “unusual goal.”

Whatever the phrase, the play – a clearing attempt that hit a Lake Superior shin pad and found the back of the goal – almost gave the Michigan State Spartans another crushing blown lead late in regulation.

This time, however, the Spartans rallied to score a late goal of their own.

Kevin Walrod finished off a play jumpstarted by a rush and a wraparound attempt by Jake Chelios, avenging the Lakers’ goal that tied the game with 2:58 remaining in regulation.

“I just saw Jake had a head of steam with the puck,” Walrod said about his goal. “He was coming up my wing, and I told him go, go with it, not to give it up to me, and he drove the puck wide, eventually around the net, and I just went to the net, thinking maybe he’d throw it in front, and of course he did. I was lucky enough to see the puck right in front of the crease and put it in.”

Torey Krug added an empty-net goal, and the Spartans eventually posted a 4-2 win over Lake Superior.

The ‘unusual’ goal that they had to overcome was one credited to LSSU’s Kellan Lain, after an outlet pass by Spartans defenseman Matt Crandell hit him in the shin and bounced into the MSU goal. Spartans goaltender Will Yanakeff said he had no idea how the puck ended up in the net.

“I wouldn’t even say I had the best look at it,” Yanakeff said. “I didn’t even see it. I just saw Crans coming up from behind the net, went to make an outlet pass to the wing, just heard it go off his shin pad and next thing I know the puck’s in my feet, I had no idea what had happened.”

Last weekend, the Spartans dropped a lead in the closing moments to Northern Michigan. While they prevailed in overtime, it was still a point lost in the tight CCHA standings, and something they had strived to avoid all week during practice.

“We’ve been harping about it in practice all week, because obviously the last couple weeks we’ve been giving up those,” Walrod said. “And when it happened again, I think the guys really came together this time, and really made an effort, especially when the puck dropped and [Chris Forfar’s] line went out there and had a real good shift, and we followed it up and got the goal.”

Mike Merrifield and Brett Perlini also scored for the Spartans, while Yanakeff made 45 saves for his 8th win of the season.

The Spartans improve to 13-9-3 on the season, and 8-7-2-2 in the CCHA. Lake Superior drops to 13-11-2, and 8-9-2-2 in conference play.

Fred Cassiani opened the scoring for the Lakers, firing in his own rebound just 28 seconds into the contest. It would be LSSU’s only goal that was scored off a Laker’s stick.

“I sound redundant, I know, but boy, I like their team,” Anastos said. “They’re a good team. They play really hard. They’re faster than I thought they were from last time, and I told you guys this week that I thought they would be a better team, and they were.

“Our game, there were parts of it that we liked, and parts we didn’t like. Obviously responding after that unusual goal – I don’t know what else to call it – I was really happy with the poise the guys showed, and the heart they showed in fighting off, after working so hard and giving up that kind of goal and then coming back and getting one. That’s a real good team, I say that every week, but it’s really true, it’s a real good team, and we were happy with the result, although we think there’s parts of our game, if we want to give ourselves a chance to win against that real good team, we’re going to have to clean up before then.”