Web exclusive: Hockey team ties Notre Dame 1-1, loses shootout 2-1

---

The No. 6 MSU hockey team had two golden opportunities to win the game Thursday night.

At 19:06 of the second period, No. 14 Notre Dame was whistled for a five-minute checking-from-behind penalty. And at 15:17 of the third period, the Spartans found themselves with a five-on-three power play for a full two minutes after the Fighting Irish took another five-minute major penalty.

But the Spartans were unable to convert and the game ended in a 1-1 tie, with the Spartans losing the ensuing shootout 2-1 in four rounds Thursday at Munn Ice Arena.

Normally, MSU head coach Rick Comley would be upset with the Spartans inability to score on lengthy power plays.

But with the youth of this year’s squad, Comley said he was content with one point on the night.

“Perhaps I have a different approach, and I really like this team, and I’m not in a hurry,” Comley said. “Sure, you’d like them to pull that game out and they would be excited. I would have liked to have gotten the win, but I’m OK with it.”

Junior forward Andrew Rowe, who scored MSU’s lone goal in the shootout, said the team was disappointed they weren’t able to earn three points on the night to extend their lead atop the CCHA standings.

“It’s frustrating because the opportunities were there,” Rowe said. “We are a little disappointed with how the season’s been going; we’ve been so successful in situations in tight games. But we have to keep our heads up and move on.

The Spartans’ (9-2-2 overall, 6-1-2 CCHA) power play went 0-for-4 and hasn’t converted in three straight games (0-for-14).

“If anything tonight you point the finger at the power play and say you had a chance to win it, but couldn’t get it done,” Comley said.

With the tie, MSU extends its unbeaten streak to eight games (6-0-2), which leads the nation.

The Spartans were held off the score sheet for the first two periods for the first time this season, much to the credit of defensive style exhibited by the Fighting Irish.

“They really know how to play the body and grind you down over the course of the game,” said sophomore goaltender Drew Palmisano, who made 26 saves on the night. “They have their style of play that really matches well to us and is similar to what we do. They went out there and played really good tonight.”

Notre Dame’s Kyle Palmieri scored the first goal of the game at 13:36 of the second period, when he dove to the net and deflected the puck past Palmisano.

But MSU freshman forward Derek Grant notched the game at 1-1 at 6:26 of the third period. Senior forward Nick Sucharski took a slap shot from the point and the puck bounced around the top of the crease before Grant fired it into the net.

The two teams will face off again at 4:05 p.m. Sunday in Fort Wayne, Ind., and Comley said playing a tight game with a quality opponent will pay dividends late in the season for the Spartans.

“I think if it’s an older team, you already have established your expectations,” Comley said. “We haven’t done that yet. We’ve put our kids out there against some really good teams and they’ve stood up pretty darn well.”

---

Commentary: