It took a little longer than expected, but top-ranked MSU eventually provided a grand finale for a crowd of 6,329 at Munn Ice Arena on Saturday night.
The Spartans (30-4-4), playing at Munn for the last time this season, completed their first-round CCHA playoff sweep by topping Alaska-Fairbanks 3-2 in overtime.
Senior left wing Sean Patchell slipped a puck through Nanook goaltender Lance Mayes’ legs 7:18 into the extra frame for the game-winner.
“As if I didn’t have enough memories already,” Patchell said of his MSU career. “For that to go in in my last game at Munn is really special.”
MSU, which won the best-of-three series opener 5-2 over Fairbanks (9-19-8) on Friday, will travel to Detroit next weekend to face the winner of a play-in game between the two lowest-seeded teams remaining in the tournament.
No. 9 seed Bowling Green, which has already swept No. 2 seed Miami, will participate in Tuesday’s play-in game against a yet-to-be-determined opponent.
The winner will face MSU in the CCHA semifinals on Friday at 5 p.m. at Joe Louis Arena, home of the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings.
Fairbanks took the first lead of Saturday’s game on a power play 3:36 into the second period when center Ryan Lang beat MSU sophomore goaltender Ryan Miller from in front of the crease.
Although Miller played very well, making 31 saves, he might have been out-shined by his adversary. Fairbanks’ Mayes stopped 41 Spartan shots, including several dazzling glove saves, after sitting out the series opener.
MSU tied things up at 1-1 16:28 into the second period as sophomore left wing Brian Maloney continued his torrid scoring streak.
Maloney notched his 15th goal of the season and seventh in the past six games by beating Mayes five-hole after an offensive-zone breakaway.
The play was sprung by a magnificent feed from sophomore defenseman Brad Fast, who hit Maloney with a pass from the middle of his own defensive zone all the way to the Nanook blue line.
“It was just a prayer,” said Fast, who also assisted on Patchell’s game-winner. “I saw Brian coming off the bench and he made a really nice play to receive it because the puck was bouncing pretty good.”
The Spartans gave the lead back 32 seconds later, when they allowed a 2-on-1 rush. Nanook right wing Scott McIlroy slid a backhand shot past Miller for a 2-1 lead.
Fairbanks led by that margin until MSU senior right wing John Nail buried a power play goal - his team-leading 19th tally of the season - with 2:42 to play.
Nail picked up a rebound to Mayes’ right and lifted a backhand over the goaltender’s flailing right pad, igniting the home crowd.
“People were asking me if I was in a slump because I haven’t scored in a couple games, but I kept saying I’d score the one that counts,” Nail said.
The Spartans have now converted on at least one power play in seven straight games and are 12 for their last 30 man-advantage chances.
The Spartans’ thin defensive corps took a blow with seven seconds remaining in the scoreless first period, when junior defenseman Jon Insana received a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for checking Nanook right wing Tom Herman into the boards from behind.
The Spartans had to finish the rest of the game with only four defensemen.
