Detroit - Playing in its first Great Lakes Invitational consolation game in six years, the MSU hockey team salvaged some pride with a 6-2 win over Michigan Tech on Sunday afternoon at Joe Louis Arena.
The Spartans didn't score a single 5-on-5 goal, but they scored twice 4-on-4, and also notched three power-play goals and a short-handed marker in defeating the Huskies.
Freshman goaltender Justin Tobe made 29 saves for the Spartans (8-8-1 overall, 4-5-0 CCHA) on Sunday. He hadn't started a game since Nov. 16 at Ohio State.
Cam Ellsworth stopped 34 shots for Tech (3-10-3).
"We played well from start to finish," MSU head coach Rick Comley said. "Justin was real good early in the game when he had to make a couple real big saves for us.
"I think they understood the urgency of it, and the importance of winning a game today and having something positive going into the second half of league play."
Tech scored first Sunday, as 5-foot-5 center Jon Pittis tipped a centering pass over Tobe 3:30 into the game.
MSU evened the count on a John-Michael Liles power-play goal at 10:57 of the first. The senior defenseman wristed a shot from the point that somehow eluded everyone and beat Ellsworth along the ice. The tally was Liles' fourth of the season.
The Spartans had a golden opportunity to take a lead late in the first, but sophomore center Lee Falardeau fanned on a short-handed breakaway.
Falardeau then opened the second period with a five-minute major penalty and an ejection for checking Pittis from behind. Pittis was hurt on the play and didn't return.
The Spartans successfully killed Falardeau's penalty, and even managed to score during 4-on-4 play while the penalty was being served. Senior defenseman Brad Fast sneaked into the slot and was all alone when sophomore left wing Brock Radunske found him with a pass. Fast took his time and beat Ellsworth between his legs.
Sophomore center Jim Slater made it 3-1 for MSU by converting a breakaway at 9:28 of the second. After scoring, Slater tugged on the front of his jersey as a non-verbal shout-out to his departed buddy, Duncan Keith, who left the MSU team last week.
"He was my roommate last year, and we were really close," Slater said. "He did that last year at Nebraska-Omaha, so I gave him a little respect. Hopefully, he was watching.
"It was just having a little fun and getting the crowd riled up. That's what this game's all about."
The Spartans completed their three-goal second-period outburst with a power-play tally by maligned senior left wing Brian Maloney. Maloney, who netted 17 goals last season, hadn't scored since MSU's second game of the year - Oct. 12 against Colgate.
But on Sunday, he collected a loose puck in the slot a few seconds after a 5-on-3 MSU advantage expired, and rifled a slap shot over Ellsworth for his second goal of the year.
"I'm not really used to being in a slump like this," Maloney said. "It was a big relief - it feels good.
"I had some chances to shoot last night, but I was thinking about it a little too much and I tried to get too fancy. Sometimes it's best to just put your head down and shoot the puck."
MSU out shot Tech 19-7 in the second period and 40-31 for the game. Comley said the second frame "might have been our best period of the year."
The Huskies gave MSU a slight scare when they cut the score to 4-2 on a power-play goal by right wing Brett Engelhardt at 8:44 of the third.
But MSU freshman left wing David Booth and Radunske both tallied later in the third to secure the game. Booth's power-play tally gave him eight goals this year, which ties him with Fast for the team lead.
Radunske scored short-handed.
The Spartans went 3-for-8 on the power play Sunday, while Tech went 1-for-7.
MSU was in Sunday's GLI consolation game after losing 6-1 to No. 14 Boston University on Saturday. Tech lost 5-3 to No. 10 Michigan in the first round.
BU beat the Wolverines 5-4 for the GLI championship Sunday.
MSU's next action is a series at Lake Superior State on Jan. 3-4.
Personnel: Senior right wing Kris Koski played for the first time this season. The 6-foot-4, 224-pounder missed the first four games this season with a shoulder injury, but he had been a healthy scratch ever since. He played on the fourth line with sophomore left wing Kevin Estrada and senior center Troy Ferguson.
Freshman right wing Nenad Gajic, a healthy scratch Saturday, returned to the lineup against Tech. Junior forward Tim Hearon and freshman right wing Chad Hontvet were scratched Sunday to make room for Koski and Gajic.
Also, sophomore Ash Goldie moved back to center after playing on the wing Saturday. Radunske moved from center to left wing.
Senior Steve Clark, a forward by nature, played defense again Sunday.
