Nov. 9, 2007

Stats

East Lansing, Mich. - No. 3 Michigan State scored a pair of goals in each period to trim Mercyhurst 6-2 Friday night in the opening of a weekend set at Munn Arena. The Spartans won their seventh straight game in a 7-1-0 season while the Lakers fell to 1-7-1. The game was the first-ever between the teams. The finale will be played at 7:05 Saturday.

Junior forward Justin Abdelkader, drafted by the Detroit Red Wings, scored his fourth goal, even strength, at 8:48 of the opening period and freshman winger Corey Tropp, drafted by the Buffalo Sabres, found the back of the net for the second time this season, even strength, at 14:29. Michigan State owned a 12-9 advantage in first period shots.

MSU increased its lead to 3-0 in the second period when another Sabres draft choice, junior forward Tim Kennedy, cashed a power play chance at 6:54. It was Kennedy's seventh of the year and sixth with the extra man. Mercyhurst closed to 3-1 at 9:56 when sophomore forward Neil Graham notched his first goal of the year, and first since a regular-season ending 2-2 overtime tie with Canisius February 24, 2007. Freshman Scott Pitt assisted. But the Spartans quickly recaptured the three-goal advantage when senior forward Bryan Lerg lit the lamp at 10:44 with both teams skating even strength. It was Lerg's third goal of the campaign. Mercyhurst senior co-captain Ben Cottreau finished the four-goal middle period with his fourth of the year, a power play, at 15:36. The goal stretched Cottreau's scoring streak to seven games and marked the fifth successive game the Lakers have scored at least one goal with the man advantage. Freshman Pitt recorded his second assist of the game and his second two-point effort in his last three. Michigan State owned a 13-10 advantage in shots in the second frame.

Kennedy dashed any hopes of a Mercyhurst comeback when he scored his second of the game, shorthanded, at 11:05 of the third. Junior winger Matt Schepke closed the scoring with his fourth of the year and the Spartans second power play goal of the night at 17:46. The Spartans outshot the Lakers 15-5 in the third period and 40-24 for the sixth minutes.

Both teams were tagged for six minor penalties. MSU finished 2 for 5 with the man advantage; the Lakers were 1 of 5. Junior Jeff Lerg (7-1-0) picked up the win in goal. Lerg made 22 saves. Freshman Ryan Zapolski (1-6-1) stopped 34 Michigan State scoring attempts.