Broncos shut out Spartans in East Lansing
By Alyssa Girardi –
EAST LANSING — Former CCHA opponents Michigan State and Western Michigan took the ice against each other for the first time since the league’s disbandment at the end of the 2012-13 season.
The teams played the first half of a home-and-home series Friday at Munn Ice Arena, in which Western Michigan shutout MSU, 2-0. Western Michigan’s Nolan LaPorte and Justin Kovacs scored a goal apiece in the win.
Big Ten MSU (3-6-0) and NCHC Western Michigan (4-5-2) will meet again at 7:05 p.m. Saturday night at Lawson Arena.
“I thought we got stronger as the game went along, and I thought our puck possession was good,” Western Michigan head coach Andy Murray said. “We made some good puck decisions tonight, took advantage of some puck transition opportunities that we had.”
Spartan defenseman Rhett Holland was called for inference about midway through the opening frame, putting Western Michigan on the only power play of the period. However, the MSU penalty kill dominated a majority of the two minutes, with its best chance coming on a two-on-one with forwards Michael Ferrantino (Plymouth) and Joe Cox (Chelsea).
The Spartan penalty kill continued its success throughout the game, not allowing any goals on five Bronco power plays, but three MSU penalties in the second period made it difficult for MSU to get momentum flowing.
“There were a number of things we saw in our game today that we really thought improved and (penalty killing) was one of them,” MSU head coach Tom Anastos said. “I think a lot of that has to do with guys are starting to gain experience, we’re starting to get some tandems where guys are able to work with each other and work off each other.”
After more than 33 minutes of scoreless hockey, LaPorte broke the ice for the Broncos.
He and teammate Josh Pitt snuck through MSU for a 2-on-1 that eventually turned into a 2-on-0 after defenseman Travis Walsh dove to block a pass that rebounded back to Pitt’s stick. Pitt closed in on goaltender Jake Hildebrand before sliding the puck across the crease to LaPorte, who tapped it into the open net from the right post.
Just about seven minutes into the third period, a nearly identical play resulted in Western Michigan’s second tally. Nashville Predator draft pick Chase Balisy and Kovacs (Shelby Township) managed a two-on-one, and Balisy slid the puck to Kovacs for the empty-net goal.
“That’s what I’ve been working on lately is trying to work on quickness and things like that,” Hildebrand said. “The guys, they had a couple odd mans today and I felt like our defense took the pass away really well, so those couple are gonna happen every once in a while.”
MSU forward Matt Berry (Canton) and defenseman John Draeger returned to the lineup after missing the beginning of the season with lower-body injuries. Berry led MSU in scoring last season with 15 goals, and Draeger led the team in minutes-played as a freshman.
“I’m anxious to watch the game back to isolate them a little more specifically, but I thought they played real hard,” Anastos said. “You have to keep in mind they’re in August 22 shape, not October 22 shape. Particularly Draeger, he got caught up for two really, really, really long shifts and to his credit, he was able to survive them and then recover from them.”