Hockey: Michigan State hands Mavericks first loss of Blais era

EAST LANSING, Mich. — The UNO hockey team got thoroughly suffocated while suffering its first loss under new coach Dean Blais.

No. 17 Michigan State turned in an impressive team defensive effort, and sophomore goalie Drew Palmisano came up big on the handful of quality chances the 10th-ranked Mavericks did earn. That combination allowed the Spartans to cruise to a 3-0 win over the University of Nebraska at Omaha Thursday night at Munn Arena.

The Spartans used goals from Derek Grant, Anthony Hayes and Corey Tropp to improve to 4-0-0 at home on the season. Palmisano, a former Omaha Lancers standout, made 31 saves to record his first collegiate shutout.

“We had our chances, but we just didn't make enough plays and move the puck well enough to score,” Blais said. “And Drew Palmisano definitely played well and made saves when he had to.”

Redshirt freshman goalie John Faulkner finished with 29 saves. Faulkner allowed only one even-strength score, but the Spartans took control of the game by going 2 for 4 on the man advantage.

In the first period, Michigan State jumped out to a 1-0 lead at the 6:47 mark on Grant's power-play goal.

The Spartans would have taken a 2-0 advantage into the first intermission if it weren't for the acrobatics of Faulkner. On a Michigan State 2-on-1 rush, Faulkner made a gorgeous glove save to deny Chris Forfar from scoring into a wide-open net.

In the second period, Palmisano prevented UNO from tying the game when he denied Dan Swanson on a short-handed breakaway.

The Spartans pushed their lead to 3-0 in the second period, with both Hayes and Tropp beating Faulkner on odd-man rushes. Tropp's CCHA-best eighth goal of the season also came during a Michigan State man advantage.

The Mavericks pulled Faulkner for the game's final 1:15, but Palmisano and the Spartans had little problem keeping UNO off the board.

Michigan State now has knocked off an unbeaten team for the third straight series. The Mavs and Spartans will close the two-game CCHA set at 6:05 tonight.

UNO (4-1-2, 1-1-1-0) ..................0 0 0—0

At Michigan State (7-2-1, 4-1-0-0 ) ................1 2 0—3

First period: 1, MSU, Grant 5 (Petry, Tropp), 6:47 (pp).

Second period: 2, MSU, Hayes 2 (Walrod, Chelios), 5:22. 3, MSU, Tropp 8 (Krug), 16:57 (pp).

Third period: None.

Shots on goal:

UNO 81112—31

At MSU 11147—32

Power plays: UNO 0 for 4; MSU 2 for 4.

Penalties-minutes: UNO 4-8; MSU 4-8.

Goalies: UNO, Faulkner (32 shots, 29 saves, 58:46). MSU, Palmisano (31 shots, 31 saves, 60:00).

1, Palmisano. 2, Tropp. 3, Grant.

Attendance: 3,903.

Contact the writer:

444-1201, sports@owh.com