Sunday, January 04, 2009

MSU splits with tough Alaska squad

By Matt Mackinder/Michigan State Beat Writer

Michigan State got back in the win column this weekend with a much-needed 2-1 win Friday night at home over the Alaska Nanooks, but failed to finish the job as Alaska took a 3-1 win last night.

Friday night, the Spartans (6-13-3, 3-9-2-2 CCHA) got their first conference win since October.

After Joe Sova scored 2:45 into the first period for Alaska Friday night, the game remained 1-0 until late in the third period.

Daultan Leveille, with help from Dustin Gazley, scored a power-play goal to tie the score with 5:35 left in the third period and the just 1:26 later, Leveille assisted Gazley on the game-winner.

Jeff Lerg made 35 saves to pick up his fifth win of the season.

Saturday night, Andrew Conboy (pictured) netted MSU's lone tally and Lerg made 29 stops.

"What haunts us continues to haunt us," Michigan State head coach Rick Comley said. "For a lot of the game, we played OK. In the first period, I thought we played very, very well. The second period was kind of neutral, we didn't give up much. The inability to score just continues to haunt us and it makes it really tough."

The Spartans are idle next weekend before playing at Miami Jan. 16-17.

Photo courtesy Michigan State Athletics

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