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MSU ice hockey drops sixth meeting to Michigan 4-1 in Big Ten Tournament

March 21, 2015

It was hard to put into words. The fresh wound of a season-ending loss mixed with the overwhelming pride of where this team came from.

The sting of letting a rival advance combined with the realization that five seniors just donned the green and white for the last time.

The good and the bad, sprinkled with a little bit of ugly.

MSU hockey got its season ended Friday night at Joe Louis Arena. The Spartans lost 4-1 to in-state rival Michigan in the semifinals of the Big Ten tournament.

The Spartans found themselves in a 1-1 tie halfway through the game, but the Wolverines closed the game with three unanswered goals. UM will play in the Big Ten tournament championship Saturday night against Minnesota.

Junior goaltender and Big Ten Player of the Year Jake Hildebrand finished with 45 saves on the night. Hildebrand was forced to make 23 saves in a first period that saw UM grab a 1-0 lead.

“The positive of the 1st period is that we got out of it with only a 1 goal deficit,” head coach Tom Anastos said.

Senior forward Matt Berry scored a power play goal 8:41 into the second period to draw MSU into a brief tie, but UM would score just minutes later to regain its lead.

UM forward JT Compher snapped a shot over Hildebrand’s glove in a perfectly placed shot.

“We started to build a little bit of momentum, and then we make a huge turnover that results in a 2-on-1 the other way,” Anastos said.

The Wolverines were all over the Spartans throughout the game as they finished with a 49-27 advantage in shots.

“They’re a really skilled team and they can put the puck in the back of the net, and they just executed tonight,” Hildebrand said of the victors.

Anastos still thought his goaltender played well in the game, and that MSU just gave up shots way too easily.

“We didn’t take care of the puck, we were slapping it around, small plays we couldn’t make for some reason tonight,” Anastos said. “We were on our heels tonight for whatever reason. I don’t know if because of the magnitude of the game, you know, some guys knew it was a one-and-done situation, I don’t know.”

With the season officially over, it was difficult for the Spartans to try to look forward. This season was surely a step in the right direction for the program, but they still failed to meet their own expectations.

“I think we’re a lot further ahead than we were last year at this point,” junior captain Michael Ferrantino said. “We were able to put together a good little stretch here, but obviously not quite far enough.

“Anytime you don’t reach your goals at the end of the year, obviously you’re gonna be hungry in the offseason and make sure guys are pushing each other. Especially losing to Michigan, I think that just fuels the fire even more.”

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