For awhile, it looked as though MSU might be embarrassed by the Under-18 U.S. National Development Team for the second time in three years.
But the seventh-ranked Spartans recovered from a 2-1 second-period deficit to beat the Nationals, 4-3, in an exhibition game Saturday night at Munn Ice Arena.
MSU lost 6-4 to the U.S. team in October 2000.
Senior left wing Steve Clark’s insurance goal with 9:32 to play turned out to be the game-winner for the Spartans on Saturday. He extended the lead to 4-2 by tapping a loose puck into a wide-open net for MSU’s only goal of the game not scored on a power play.
The goal was just enough cushion for the Spartans, who let the Nationals cut the lead to 4-3 with 6:01 to play. But the U.S. team couldn’t get another one past freshman goaltender Justin Tobe, who played the entire game for MSU.
He stopped 16 of 19 shots.
Sophomore center Ash Goldie put the Spartans up early on, scoring a power-play goal 4:56 into the game. On the play, Goldie took a slick centering pass from senior left wing Brian Maloney and then wristed a close-range shot past U.S. goaltender Chris Holt’s glove.
The Nationals evened the game at 1-1 less than four minutes later on a tally by left wing Jacob Dowell, who swatted a loose puck through Tobe’s legs.
But MSU picked up its play in the second stanza, out-shooting the U.S. team, 13-4, in the period. At one point, the Spartans had roughly 45 seconds of continuous possession in the U.S. zone, which MSU head coach Rick Comley said the team should do more often.
However, despite MSU’s improved play, the team fell behind 13:17 into the second when Nationals defenseman Ryan Suter wristed a 45-foot shot over Tobe’s glove to put the U.S. up, 2-1.
The Spartans retied the game four minutes later with their second power-play tally of the game.
Freshman defenseman Corey Potter sneaked in from the point, took a centering pass from freshman forward David Booth and beat Holt high at 17:05. Sophomore center Lee Falardeau earned the other assist on the play, meaning all three components of the goal were alumni of the U.S. development team.
Another national team product, senior defenseman John-Michael Liles broke the 2-2 tie on a power play 3:05 into the third period. Just like Potter’s goal, Liles pinched in from the point on the play. He then one-timed a pass from Maloney past Holt.
MSU went 3-for-7 with a man-advantage in the game.
Holt made 43 saves for the Nationals.
MSU’s next game will be an exhibition contest against Western Ontario University at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday at Munn.
Personnel: Comley surprised a few people by dressing seven defensemen for Saturday’s game. Teams usually dress six blue-liners, but Comley had said all week that he didn’t know which six he would play.
So he dressed them all - seniors Brad Fast and Liles, junior Joe Markusen, sophomore Duncan Keith and freshmen Potter, Jared Nightingale and Evan Shaw.
Nightingale played the first period as a right wing, but returned to defense for the rest of the contest.
Freshman forward Colton Fretter (mononucleosis) and senior right wing Kris Koski (shoulder) both sat out of the game. The healthy forwards scratched were junior center Tim Hearon, sophomore right wing Steve Swistak and freshman forward Chad Hontvet.
