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Ice Hockey
Notre Dame Hockey Drops A 4-1 Decision To Michigan State
Dec. 5, 1999
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Fifth-ranked Michigan State scored goals in every period and rode the strong goaltending of junior Joe Blackburn for a 4-1 victory over visiting Notre Dame, in Central Collegiate Hockey Association action Sunday night at Munn Ice Arena. Notre Dame (6-8-2, 4-6-2 CCHA)-which beat MSU 1-0 on Saturday night at the Joyce Center-missed out on a chance to move into a tie for seventh in the CCHA standings. The Irish continued their season-long dropoffs in the second games of CCHA series, with a 3-2-1 mark in the opening games and just a 1-4-1 record in the second games. Michigan State (12-5-0, 11-3-0 CCHA) scored twice in a 23-second span of the first period before adding to its lead with single goals in the next two periods. Blackburn extended his history of strong play versus the Irish, making 24 saves to give him 95 in four career games against Notre Dame (with just four goals allowed). Irish freshman goaltender Tony Zasowski-coming of a 24-save shutout performance-saw his shutout streak end at 130:36, stretching back to the first period of last weeks 2-1 loss at New Hampshire. Notre Dame-which failed to convert on all eight of its power-play chances-quickly responded to MSUs third goal of the night, on a frantic triple-rebound sequence at the 11:55 mark of the second period. Senior center Ben Simon set the play in motion with a shot from the left circle and Blackburn knocked the puck into the crowded slot area. Senior right wing Joe Dusbabek sent the puck back on net but Blackburn skated out for the save. Dusbabek then sent the second rebound through the legs of the charging Blackburn but senior defenseman Brad Hodgins was guarding the goal line and nudged the puck back into the slot. But Irish junior left wing Jay Kopischke-still on the ice after a line change-was crashing the net and smacked the puck past Hodgins for his third career goal and first since scoring in a 7-2 loss to Michigan on Jan. 30, 1998. The Spartans collected two 4-on-4 goals late in the first period, with junior center Andrew Bogle scoring at the 16:06 mark followed by a goal from Hodgins just 23 seconds later. Junior right wing Sean Patchell and freshman defenseman Brad Fast assisted on the games first goal, with Bogle nudging a backhander from the right side of the crease that found its way through Zasowskis pads. Senior center Shawn Horcoff then set up Hodgins, who beat Zasowski with a rising shot from the left slot (16:29). Notre Dame appeared to have converted on the power play early in the second period, but sophomore left wing David Inmans shot from the top of the right circle sailed over the raised stick of the lefthanded Blackburn before smacking off the top right corner of the goal pipe. MSU sophomore defenseman Jon Insana padded the lead with a strong individual effort midway through the second period. Bogle and junior right wing John Nail set up the goal, with Insana maneuvering through the left circle before whipping a shot in between Zasowskis legs (11:01). The Spartans capped the scoring at the 13:21 mark of the third period, with Patchell passing to Insana near mid-ice. Insana skated down the left side and slanted into the slot before lifting a backhanded shot over Zasowskis stick and outstretched right leg. NOTES: The Irish played without freshman center Connor Dunlop, who was injured in Saturday nights game (his status is still to be determined) ... senior center Troy Bagne moved up from the fourth to the second line while junior Chad Chipchase centered the fourth line, in his first action since the Nov. 5 game at Nebraska-Omaha ... the Irish have totaled just two goals in their last three trips to Munn Ice Arena ... Notre Dame has allowed just 13 goals in the first games of CCHA series this season while allowing 23 goals in the second games. NOTRE DAME (6-8-2, 4-6-2 CCHA) 0 1 0 - 1 MICHIGAN STATE (12-5-0, 11-3-0 CCHA) 2 1 1 - 4 1st: MSU 1. Bogle 2 (Patchell, Fast), 4-4, 16:06, MSU 2. Hodgins (Horcoff), 4-4, 16:29.
Shots: ND 11-11-5/27, MSU 11-10-4/25.
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