Michigan and Michigan State continued their long-standing rivalry last weekend as they played to a 2-2 tie Friday night in Ann Arbor and a 1-1 stalemate Saturday night at Joe Louis Arena.
Friday, Drew Miller scored the tying goal with 1.3 seconds left in regulation after his first goal at 17:34 of the third period. Charlie Henderson and Jeff Tambellini gave the Wolverines (20-7-3, 16-3-2 CCHA) a 2-0 lead with first-period goals, both assisted by Andrew Ebbett.
Al Montoya stopped 23 shots for U of M while Dominic Vicari was stellar in making 41 saves.
"We had a shaky first period," said Miller. "But I thought we showed a lot of character in the second and third."
The next night, Jim McKenzie and Michigan captain Eric Nystrom traded goals at the sold-out "Joe" with McKenzie's coming with 3:18 to go in the third period.
Montoya again made 23 saves to Vicari's 41 stops.
"It was a game obviously that Vicari became a big factor in," Michigan head coach Red Berenson said. "He was the difference. I really liked our team tonight. I thought we battled right to the end. That goal, it wasn't like we gave up a goal. The kid got his second goal of the year."
"It was a typical hard work, grinder goal," said McKenzie. "It felt great. Hopefully, this will turn things around."
"Jim McKenzie is a big strong body," remarked Spartans head coach Rick Comley. "I didn't see how it went in, but that line played well for us tonight. He has been coming on, he was a big scorer in junior and has struggled, so maybe a goal like that will really give him a boost."
Michigan is at Nebraska-Omaha this weekend while MSU (13-11-4, 8-9-3 CCHA) is at Alaska-Fairbanks.
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