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MSU hockey gets revenge on Minnesota in shootout win

MSU upsets No. 3/6 Minnesota at Munn Ice Arena.

December 7, 2014
<p>Sophomore forward Villiam Haag skates the puck towards Minnesota goaltender Adam Wilcox on Dec. 6, 2014, at Munn Ice Arena. The Spartans tied the Golden Gophers, 3-3, but won the extra point in a shootout. Danyelle Morrow/The State News</p>

Sophomore forward Villiam Haag skates the puck towards Minnesota goaltender Adam Wilcox on Dec. 6, 2014, at Munn Ice Arena. The Spartans tied the Golden Gophers, 3-3, but won the extra point in a shootout. Danyelle Morrow/The State News

Photo by Danyelle Morrow | The State News

Less than 24 hours after suffering a 5-0 loss to the No. 3/6 Minnesota Gophers (9-4-1, 1-0-1-0 Big Ten), MSU hockey (5-9-1, 1-2-1-1 Big Ten) was back to redeem themselves. After playing to a 3-3 tie through overtime, the Spartans earned the extra point by winning the shootout 2-1. 

Senior forward Brent Darnell scored two goals for MSU after being a healthy scratch in Friday night's game. Sophomore forward Mackenzie MacEachern added his fifth goal of the season, while senior captain Michael Ferrantino and junior forward Matt DeBlouw scored the shootout goals for the Spartans.

"Much better effort tonight," head coach Tom Anastos said. "I liked the energy of our team, I liked the tenacity that we played with...Would have really liked to get a win, but I guess this is the next best thing."

The Spartans wasted no time letting their opponent know it was going to be a different game this time around. With the man advantage, Darnell parked himself in front of the net and got rewarded with a goal off a rebound.

MSU would control the pace for most of the first period, but got in some trouble late. Just past the 15 minute mark of the first, Connor Reilly scored the equalizer which was followed by a Kyle Rau goal less than two minutes later to give the Gophers a 2-1 lead. 

With momentum starting to swing heading into the second period, MacEachern scored a huge goal for the Spartans with just 24 seconds left in the first period. Sophomore forward Joe Cox led MSU in on a 2-on-1 break and made an early pass to MacEachern who buried it in the back of the net to make it 2-2.

"Any time you get a goal first or last minute of a period, we really focus on that and that's huge just for momentum," Ferrantino said. "Coming back in the room down 2-1, or 2-2, it makes a world of difference. It gave us a boost and we were able to carry that throughout the third period and through the game."

The fast-paced second period started off with both teams garnering some good opportunities, but junior goaltender Jake Hildebrand and Wilcox were standing tall in their nets. 

It wasn't until a spectacular individual effort by Darnell that allowed the Spartans to regain their lead.

"I came down...and kind of went around [Rau]," Darnell said. "Faked a shot and went wide, and I knew I had to shoot so I tried to get it up as quick as I can."

The Gophers were able to tie the game early in the third period, playing on a 4-on-3 power play. Following some good puck movement, Reilly scored his second of the game on a slap shot from outside the left face off circle. 

Neither team could score after the Reilly goal, forcing the two Big Ten teams into overtime. The Spartans outshot Minnesota 7-1 in the five minute overtime period, but the one Gopher shot nearly ended it. After Hildebrand couldn't get his stick on a centering pass, he slid over and made an unbelievable glove save to keep the game 3-3. 

"I have no idea," Hildebrand said of how he made his crucial save. "He sauced the puck over my stick because I was trying to poke check it, and I just pushed over and I think the kid kind of hit my glove."

Building off of his solid night and spectacular save, HIldebrand was pivotal in the shootout, stopping 5-of-6 Gopher attempts.

"I thought from the start of the game to the end of the game, that was our best game of the season," Anastos said. "That standard is something that we should be able to have an expectation for."

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