Spartans shut out Wolverines Saturday at the GLI
By Alyssa Girardi –
DETROIT — It wasn’t the Great Lakes Invitational championship game, but for MSU, defeating Michigan in the consolation match at Comerica Park was almost just as sweet.
Thomas Ebbing, Matt Berry and Brent Darnell each scored for MSU in a 3-0 victory that marked the first time the No. 3 Wolverines were shut out in just shy of one year.
“It feels like a championship game every time you play them,” defenseman RJ Boyd said of Michigan. “It feels like you just won something really special to you and your team and the whole MSU community. It is a championship.”
The Spartans put 40 shots on Michigan’s Steve Racine, one of the highest shot totals this season, and took a step forward for a team who has struggled to generate offense.
On the other end of the ice, the MSU defense moved the puck efficiently and played what Boyd said was one of their best games this season. Head coach Tom Anastos rotated all six defensemen, and said a few were playing through nagging injuries despite soreness.
“Our objective for the weekend was to come in here and accomplish two things,” head coach Tom Anastos said. “One we didn’t get accomplished was to win the tournament, the other was to take a step forward in getting better, and I thought we did that.”
Just 1:23 into the game, the Spartans scored their first goal and picked up some early momentum. Ebbing (Troy) skated the puck from the neutral zone and wristed the puck past Racine from the left circle.
Michigan pushed back at the end of the opening period, and netminder Jake Hildebrand stood on his head with two big saves to keep the Spartans ahead. His solid play continued through the game and he earned himself his first shutout this year backed by 29 saves.
“Getting a shutout, it always feels good for the goaltender but I think it was a result of how the team played tonight,” Hildebrand said. “Guys are blocking shots; the penalty kill was really good at the end. We played most of the game in their zone, so I think it was definitely a team effort for that shutout, and to get it against Michigan makes it even better.”
After going 0-3 on the power play, Berry (Canton) took advantage of Michael Downing’s (Canton) contact to the head elbowing call and scored his second goal of the tournament and the season. Jake Chelios (Bloomfield Hills) sent a cross-ice pass to Berry at the far side of the net, and Berry found an open space between Racine’s glove and pad.
After the lamp was lit, Berry threw an imaginary baseball in the air and hit a “home run” with his stick — a celebration fitting for a sheet of ice on a baseball diamond.
“I actually got (the inspiration) from (Michigan),” Berry said. “They did the field goal a few years ago back on our team so I thought about when we play at Comerica I’d hit a home run … I actually thought about it yesterday but when I scored, I don’t know, it was too much adrenaline and I didn’t think to do it. I was glad to get it off today.”
With about six minutes to play, Darnell (Canton) capped off scoring for the Spartans and put the Wolverines in last place in the GLI for the first time since 2000. His shot from the high slot snuck its way through Racine’s five-hole.
MSU will have a two-week break before returning to action against Big Ten opponent Ohio State at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 10 in Columbus.