MSU’s exhibition game against Queen’s University (Ontario) was a dominating display of offense as the Spartans skated circles around the Golden Gaels in a 14-1 win Saturday in front of 6,462 fans at Munn Ice Arena.
The Spartans led 7-1 after the first period and never looked back in their final tune-up before “The Cold War” outdoor game against Michigan next Saturday in Spartan Stadium.
MSU is 12-0-1 against Canadian universities since 1983.
Senior left wing Joe Goodenow led the way for MSU with two goals and three assists and freshman center Lee Falardeau added a pair of goals and an assist for the Spartans.
Senior defenseman Jon Insana, junior left wing Brian Maloney, freshman center Ash Goldie, senior right wing Adam Hall, junior right wing Kris Koski, junior defenseman Brad Fast, freshman defenseman Duncan Keith, junior center Troy Ferguson, freshman right wing Brock Radunske and freshman right wing Mike Lalonde also scored for MSU.
Junior defenseman John-Michael Liles, sophomore defenseman Joe Markusen and Insana each added three assists.
The only Spartan skater held pointless was freshman left wing Kevin Estrada.
“We executed and played as a team,” Insana said. “It was nice tonight, but we’re definitely going to have to step it up a notch next week.”
Saturday’s game was 1-1 before either goaltender had made a save. Falardeau got the Spartans on the board first 1:08 into the first period after Goodenow made a strong move to get inside a Gael defenseman and fed the freshman streaking to the net. Falardeau tipped the pass high past Gael goaltender Matt Kenney’s stick side for the tally.
“I was just trying to get my stick on it and get it over the goalie,” said Falardeau, who played on the U.S. Under-18 National Development team that upset the Spartans 6-4 in an exhibition game last season.
“I thought I played well, the whole team played well. We kept moving the puck and no one got selfish.”
Queen’s struck back 48 seconds after Falardeau’s goal when center Ryan Poll beat MSU junior goaltender Ryan Miller with a shot from between the circles, knotting the game at 1-1.
But it was all MSU from there as the Spartans shot 50 percent in the first period (7-for-14) and outshot the Gaels 51-15 for the game.
Miller made 14 saves, none very difficult, for the win.
The game’s prettiest goal was scored by Ferguson, who split a pair of Gael defenders down the slot and pulled the puck from his backhand to his forehand to beat Queen’s goalie Jeff Murphy. Murphy played net in the third period as the Gaels rotated goaltenders every period.
Spartan notes: Freshman center Jim Slater sat out of Saturday’s game with a groin injury. He also missed Friday’s Green and White intrasquad scrimmage. His status for “The Cold War” has yet to be determined.
Junior right wing Steve Jackson was a healthy scratch for the Spartans on Saturday. Koski replaced him on the fourth line.
