MSU, which remains in 10th place in the CCHA standings after Thursday’s 2-1 loss at Ferris State, improves to 4-1-2 against opponents ranked in the top 10.

“I think U-M’s the best team in the country, top to bottom,” head coach Rick Comley said after the game Saturday.

“Tonight, the shots were 35 to 30. They were very even, as far as scoring opportunities at both ends.

The Spartans made their offensive opportunities count this weekend.
Trailing 2-0 with five minutes remaining in the third period at Ferris State, junior forward Daultan Leveille brought the Spartans to within one, but MSU couldn’t capitalize despite having chances.

Despite not converting on early chances against U-M goalie Shawn Hunwick on Saturday, freshman Jake Chelios, playing on a line with his brother, Dean, instead of on defense, scored a late second-period goal.

Senior forward Joey Shean’s rebound goal was his first goal in nearly two seasons and put MSU ahead with 7:34 remaining.

Then the Spartans turned to freshman goaltender Will Yanakeff to keep the Wolverines behind, as he stopped a late penalty shot by U-M forward Kevin Lynch with 5:10 left. The win is Yanakeff’s second in two attempts against the Wolverines this season.

Junior goalie Drew Palmisano stopped 27 of 29 shots in a good effort against the Bulldogs on Thursday, while Yanakeff continues to amaze with his 1.88 goals against average and gives the Spartans plenty of options in net.

“I’m speechless, actually,” sophomore defenseman Torey Krug said of Yanakeff’s performance. “He fought through and battled really hard. No one could get in his head tonight.”

The Spartans were just 2-4 against the Bulldogs and Wolverines entering the weekend, but made their goals count despite seeing two of the conference’s top goalies in Ferris State’s Pat Nagle and U-M’s Hunwick.

The Wolverines and Bulldogs rank first and second, respectively, in fewest goals against in CCHA play.

But MSU still recorded prime scoring chances on breakaways and periods of sustained pressure.

The Spartans matched the Wolverines’ intensity and outshot them, 23-21, through the first two periods and slowed the Wolverines enough in the third period to secure a victory.

The Wolverines had won five straight games and nine out of their last 10 coming in, but the Spartans contained their high-scoring offense and made them work defensively for the second time in a month.

With eight games remaining, MSU will try to bring the intensity of Saturday night’s game to its remaining games, and that begins with a road series against Ohio State on Friday and Saturday.
“It was such a complete game,” Jake Chelios said.

“What’s been hard for us this year is getting a whole game in.
“That was awesome.”