Detroit - The Spartans knew they couldn't keep digging themselves into a hole early in games because sooner or later they wouldn't be able to crawl out of it.
Thursday was the night they fell behind and stayed behind.
Just 6:05 into the CCHA Super Six quarterfinal game, the MSU hockey team was down, 2-0, to Northern Michigan. Backstopped by backup goaltender Tuomas Tarkki, the Wildcats hung on, 2-1, to advance to the semifinal game at 4:05 p.m. today against Michigan.
The Spartans, meanwhile, receive an early exit back home with a record of 23-16-2.
"They're a team that's built on toughness and overcoming adversity. They certainly showed that," MSU head coach Rick Comley said. "They were a tired team (coming back from Alaska), but a two-goal lead - that obviously helps you.
"We needed some people to play that didn't."
MSU players were unavailable to the media for comment.
The Wildcats got on the board at the 1:11 mark of the first period with a goal by forward Alex Sawruk. At center ice, Wildcats forward Kevin Gardner fed the puck up through two Spartans players. With junior forward Adam Nightingale trying to contain him, Gardner received the pass and scored.
Less than five minutes later, Gardner went up the ice on the right side and took a shot. The puck hit the glove of MSU freshman goaltender Dominic Vicari, jumped out, over and trickled behind him.
Vicari made 15 saves in the game.
"The key was certainly getting off to a good start," Northern head coach Walt Kyle said. "We knew that as the night wore on, we'd get fatigued."
The Spartans had one of the best opportunities to score during a 5-on-3 man advantage for more than a minute in the second period. With defensemen Zach Tarkir and Geoff Waugh called for holding and checking from behind, respectively, the Wildcats penalty-killing trio of forward Justin Kinnunen and defensemen Nathan Oystrick and John Miller held the Spartans off.
After Tarkir's penalty expired, the Spartans still were on the power play and, this time, they took advantage of it. MSU junior forward Ash Goldie took a shot on net from the right circle and Tarkki made the initial save, but junior forward Brock Radunske tapped in the rebound.
The Spartans seemingly scored another goal later on in the period, but the goal was waived off due to a player in the crease. And that was as close as MSU got.
With a minute left in the game, Vicari was pulled in favor of the extra man. Freshman defenseman A.J. Thelen had one of the best chances when he took a slapshot from the blueline, but Tarkki denied him and any other Spartans player in front of the net looking for the loose rebound.
"All year long, when Slater's line has gotten shut down, we've had trouble," Comley said. "The first goal, our winger, let (Sawruk) go; the second, obviously, Dom misplayed it.
"I can't answer why as far as playing better."
The Spartans now must wait until Sunday to learn if they've earned an invitation to the NCAA Tournament, starting March 27.
