By Matt Mackinder / Michigan State Beat WriterMichigan State welcomed non-conference foe Mercyhurst into Munn Ice Arena last weekend and sent the Lakers back home with two losses.
The Spartans have now won eight straight.
Friday night, Justin Abdelkader had a goal and two assists and Tim Kennedy scored a pair in a 6-2 win.
Corey Tropp, captain Bryan Lerg and Matt Schepke rounded out the scoring for the Spartans.
Jeff Lerg made 22 saves for MSU.
“We came out and played really well,” said Abdelkader. “I was kind of worried, because coming back from the Alaska trip is always difficult. I think Coach giving everyone the day off on Monday really helped everyone get their feet under them. I think we came out the first 10 minutes and played really well.”
Four Spartans scored their first tallies of the season Saturday night and Bobby Jarosz made 24 saves in his first collegiate start as Michigan State captured another 6-2 decision.
“It was an unbelievable feeling,” Jarosz said. “All of the guys have really had confidence in me, so that helped me a lot, and they really played well in front of me.”
“You look back there and you don't see Lerg and it's a little weird, because for two years now, I've seen a little guy back there who's head doesn't go over the crossbar,” MSU head coach Rick Comley said. “We don't want to play more aggressive when Lerg is in there, because we know he is the best goalie in the nation. Our game is defense first, and whether it's Bobby or Jeff back there, we're going to start on defense and move to offense.”
Kennedy and Chris Mueller each had a goal and three assists for MSU. Tim Crowder, A.J. Sturges (first NCAA goal), Jeff Petry (first NCAA goal) and Abdelkader also scored.
The Spartans outshot Mercyhurst, 80-46, in the two-game set.
MSU (8-1-0, 4-0-0 CCHA) has a short week before hosting league-leading Miami in a two-game set Thursday and Friday in East Lansing.
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