Nov. 10, 2007

Stats

East Lansing, Mich. - No. 3 Michigan State stretched its winning streak to eight games, the longest in the nation, with another 6-2 victory over Mercyhurst Saturday night to sweep the two-game weekend series. MSU won Friday's opener by an identical score. The Spartans improve to 8-1-0 while the Lakers fall to 1-8-1.

Michigan State scored twice in a 14-second span early in the first period. Senior forward Chris Mueller collected his first of the year at 4:48 (even strength) and junior winger Tim Crowder, a Pittsburgh Penguins draft pick, followed suit with his first of the year, an even strength marker at 5:02.

Mercyhurst closed to within a goal nearly five minutes later when sophomore forward Nick Vandenbeld broke a 10-game scoring drought dating to last season with a power play marker at 9:43. The lamplighter was assisted by sophomore defenseman Cullen Eddy and sophomore forward Cody Collins. It was Eddy's first point of the year. He was an Atlantic Hockey All-Rookie Team member last season. There was no further scoring in the period as the Spartans outshot the Lakers 19-8.

MSU put the game out of reach with three unanswered goals in the second. Junior forward Tim Kennedy cashed his ninth goal of the season and seventh power play at 6:42. It was Kennedy's third of the season and third special team (two power play and a shorthanded). Kennedy led the nation in power play goals entering weekend play. The Spartans scored two more in a 63-second span late in the period courtesy of freshman defensemen A.J. Sturges (16:37) and Jeff Petry (power play, 17:40), both of whom collected their initial goals of the season. Kennedy is a draft choice of the Buffalo Sabres while Petry was drafted by Edmonton. Michigan State registered 24 of the 37 second-period shots.

Mercyhurst junior forward Matt Pierce tallied his second of the year at 7:01 of the third, but Michigan State needed just 45-seconds to regain the four-goal lead and conclude the scoring when junior forward Justin Abdelkader (Detroit Red Wings) found the back of the net for his fifth of the season and second of the series. Junior winger Brett Robison and sophomore forward Chris Risi assisted on Pierce's tally. For Risi, it was his first point of the season.

Mercyhurst senior forward and leading scorer, Ben Cottreau, saw his seven-game scoring streak come to an end.

Michigan State doubled Mercyhurst in shots, 52-26. The 52 were the most allowed by the Lakers this season. Mercyhurst freshman goaltender Ryan Zapolski, who made his ninth straight start (1-7-1), was the victim of the MSU attack. Sophomore Bobby Jarosz (1-0-0) made his first start of the season and turned aside 24 Mercyhurst shots. Both teams were whistled for seven minor penalties. The Spartans were 2 of 6 with the man advantage; the Lakers 1 of 6.

After a 5-3 win at Air Force eight days ago, Mercyhurst has lost its last three games by identical 6-2 counts - one to Air Force and the last two to Michigan State.

The Michigan State eight-game winning streak is the longest in head coach Rick Comley's tenure and MSU's longest since a nine-game skein during the Frozen Four season of 2000-01.

Mercyhurst ends its six-game road trip next weekend with a pair of conference games at defending regular season champs, RIT. The Tigers won three of four meetings last season and lead the all-time series 19-11-3.