The top-ranked Spartans took care of business on the final date of their four-game season-opening homestand with a 2-0 win over Ferris State on Saturday night at Munn Ice Arena.
Goals from senior right wing Adam Hall and freshman center Ash Goldie provided plenty of support for junior goaltender Ryan Miller, who made 23 saves Saturday and recorded his second shutout of the season.
“We were up against a high-speed team that was getting a lot of chances,” said Miller, who earned his 20th career shutout. “We capitalized on a few, and I needed to shut them down to give us a little comfort level.
“I felt good. I felt a part of it - making plays.”
Although the MSU defense held Ferris (2-1-0 overall, 0-1-0 CCHA) to 23 shots, Miller had to make some of his best saves of the season Saturday.
He stoned Bulldog center Jeff Legue from point-blank range early in the second period, compensating for a misplay by freshman defenseman Duncan Keith that sent the puck sliding dangerously near the net.
And Miller also turned away a blistering drive from Bulldog defenseman Simon Mangos with his right pad later in the period.
“The nice number tonight was zero, and that was Ryan Miller’s shutout,” said MSU head coach Ron Mason, who won for the 900th time in his career Saturday. “I thought he earned it tonight. I thought he was a big part of our win, and I thought our kids had to really dig down to win this hockey game.
“I don’t think our players had the same type of passion that Ferris State did, which quite often happens in this series.”
Offensively, the Spartans (3-0-1, 3-0-1) fought through Ferris’ trapping defense and dominated the shot total (40-23) for the third straight game.
Hall scored the game-winning goal a mere 3:29 into the contest after the Bulldogs left him virtually unattended to the right of Ferris goaltender Mike Brown. The MSU captain redirected a soft shot from junior defenseman Brad Fast into the short side of the net for his second tally of the season.
MSU doubled its lead at 14:13 of the second period as Goldie took advantage of an MSU power play to notch his first career goal. Keith faked a shot at the blue line and hit Goldie streaking through the slot and Goldie did the rest with a backhand shot past Brown’s glove.
“I was just surprised (it went in) because I didn’t even look when I shot it,” Goldie said. “I can (backhand) if I have to. You have to know how to take one if you have to because you don’t have much time out there to switch to your forehand.”
Fast and Keith assisted on both Spartan goals and tied freshman center Jim Slater for the team lead with six points each.
The MSU power play, which was performing at a league-leading .333 clip before the game, finished 1-for-5.
Hall said he was pleased with MSU’s last home game before the Spartans travel to No. 15 Nebraska-Omaha for a two-game set this weekend - the team’s first road series of the year.
“It’s two points in the league, so any time you can get a win, you’ll take it and run,” Hall said. “You can’t get too high or too low because it’s such a long season.”
