Oct. 27, 2000
Notre Dame, Ind. – Michigan State senior left wing Sean Patchell took advantage of a Notre Dame defensive turnover to score his first goal of the season with 1:18 left in the game to give the Spartans a hard-fought 3-2 win over the Fighting Irish Friday night in a Central Collegiate Hockey Association game.
Patchell’s linemate, fellow senior, John Nail picked off an errant Irish clearing pass and fed Patchell streaking down the middle. The Moonstone, Ontario native drilled the puck past Notre Dame goaltender Tony Zasowski for the one-goal victory.
“It was definitely a breakdown in our zone,” said Irish head coach Dave Poulin following the game. “Other guys have responsibilities to pick him up on that play and they didn’t and he scores.”
On the night, the Irish fired a season high 42 shots at Michigan State goaltender Ryan Miller. The All-American candidate turned aside 40 of them including 18 in the second period and 11 in the third period.
Poulin credited Miller for leading the Spartans to the win. “Obviously, Ryan Miller was the difference in the third period. We had some great chances and just didn’t put them away. This is one of those games that you just have to find a way to win,” reflected the sixth-year coach.
Things started slowly for the second night in a row as Michigan State scored two first period power play goals giving them five on the weekend.
With Connor Dunlop off for interference, senior Rustyn Dolyny got his third goal of the season at 5:49 of a nice setup from Adam Hall.
The Irish came right back scoring on a four-on-four. Defenseman Jay Kopischke moved the puck ahead to Dunlop who carried the puck into the MSU zone. He moved the puck in front of the net where Rob Globke stuffed it under Miller with a great second effort.
The Spartans made it 2-1 at 19:24 with Brett Lebda off of hitting from behind. Hall was all alone in the slot and took a centering pass from freshman Jeremy Jackson for his fourth goal of the season.
Notre Dame went on the attack in a wide-open second period, getting 19 shots on Miller, but scored just once. Extra effort by senior Ryan Dolder produced the game tying goal at 16:11 of the stanza. Freshman Aaron Gill carried the puck around behind the goal and got it in front. Dolder was there and managed to squeeze it past Miller for the game tying goal. For the Hutchinson, Minnesota native, it was his fourth of the season.
The two teams traded scoring chances in the third period with the Irish getting a great chance when senior left wing Dan Carlson blocked a pass at the MSU blueline and was off to the races. As the Edina, Minnesota native got ready to shoot, he was knocked down by the Spartans’ Steve Jackson.
Poulin along with most in the crowd thought Carlson would get a penalty shot. Instead, Jackson got a two-minute minor for tripping.
“I thought it should have been a penalty shot,” explained Poulin. “He had a clean breakaway and got pulled down. He (referee Brian Aaron) told me that he caught him and that’s why it was a penalty and not a penalty shot.”
Michigan State killed off that penalty setting up Patchell’s late heroics. According to Poulin, this was a game that the Irish really needed to win.
“This is the kind of game that you just have to find a way to win. I think as we mature as a team, we will win these games. It’s ashame that you can get 40+ shots against the best goaltender in the country and not get a win out of it,” stated Poulin shaking his head following the game. “We just need to learn how to win against strong defensive teams like Michigan State.
On the night, Irish goaltender Tony Zasowski, making his first start since October 13th versus Boston College, played a strong game making 28 saves of his own.
The win improves Michigan State to 4-1-1 overall and 3-1-0 in the CCHA. Notre Dame has now dropped three straight to fall to 2-5-1 on the year and 0-2-0 in league play.
Notre Dame returns to action next Friday, November 3rd when the Irish travel to Miami (OH) for a weekend series.
SUMMARY:
Michigan State (4-1-1/3-1-0) 2 0 1 – 3
Notre Dame (2-5-1/0-2-0) 1 1 0 – 2
First Period: MSU: Rustyn Dolyny -3 (Adam Hall, John-Michael Liles) pp 5:49, ND: Rob Globke – 4 (Connor Dunlop, Jay Kopischke) 13:06, MSU: Hall – 4 (Jeremy Jackson, Dolyny) pp 19:24.
Penalties: MSU: 3 for 6 minutes, ND: 4 for 8 minutes.
Second Period: ND: Ryan Dolder – 4 (Aaron Gill, Brett Henning) 16:21.
Penalties: MSU: 1 for 2 minutes, ND: 1 for 2 minutes.
Third Period: MSU: Sean Patchell – 1 (John Nail) 18:42.
Penalties: MSU: 2 for 4 minutes, ND: 1 for 10 minutes.
Power Plays:
Michigan State: 2 for 4
Notre Dame: 0 for 5
Shots On Goal
Michigan State: 15-10-6-31
Notre Dame: 12-19-11-42
Goaltender Saves:
Michigan State: Ryan Miller (60:00) 11-18-11-40
Notre Dame: Tony Zasowski (58:56) 13-10-5-28
Attendance: 2,595