“It was tough, it was really hard trying to get pucks through to the net,” Wolfe said after the game. “It was hard to get bodies there.”

Ferris State was first to strike on Saturday night, taking advantage of a stickless Spartan defender with sophomore forward Kenny Babinski passing the puck out of the corner to freshman forward Chad McDonald who wristed it into the top right corner. The goal came at the 9:21 mark of the 1st period and would end up being the gamewinner.

The Bulldogs would add to its lead early in the 2nd period on the power play after a costly five minute major boarding penalty by sophomore forward Matt DeBlouw. Ferris State junior forward Justin Buzzeo tapped in a pass from along the right boards from freshman forward Gerald Mayhew with 14:26 left in the 2nd period.

MSU only generated three shots in the 2nd period, its lowest total in a 2nd period on the season.

MSU’s power play continued its season long struggle with one of its worst outing on the season, finishing 0-6 with only three shots on the night, including a failed 5-on-3 opportunity.

“They are a good penalty killing team but we didn’t get anything going and create any danger on it,” head coach Tom Anastos said. “We had a lot of opportunities to do it, including a 5-on-3. They were the better team tonight and they deserve to win the game.”

Hildebrand finished the night with 20 saves.

While MSU was shutout for the third time this year, Anastos felt the Spartans competed hard throughout the game and was pleased with the team’s effort.

“For us, it was a matter of finding a way to score that first goal to maybe open things up and get our crowd into the game, build some momentum but in spite of our inability to do that, I liked how our team stayed together and you saw even right down until the end we stayed together,” Anastos said. “We played two teams here the past two weeks that are top 5 teams in the country and I think our team is getting better.”

MSU will return to the ice on Dec. 27 against Michigan Tech (6-9-5, 4-4-4 WCHA) in the Great Lakes Invitational. Michigan Tech swept the Spartans earlier in the season, winning 3-0 and 3-2 in overtime on Nov. 8 and 9.

The Spartans will be off practice until Christmas evening, with only two sessions before Michigan Tech. Anastos said the break will be good for the team to get healthy, with a few Spartans currently injured — including senior forward Lee Reimer and sophomore defenseman Travis Walsh, who both missed Saturday’s game.

This year the GLI will take place outdoors at Comerica Park, and will be the first time since MSU played an outdoor game since the Big Chill at the Big House in 2010. Wolfe has yet to play in an outdoors game because of an injury and said he is chomping at the bit at the unique opportunity.

“We’ll be really excited for that, I mean we have so many Michigan guys, (so) that puts extra emphasis on this tournament,” Wolfe said. “I grew up watching it, really fun time. I think everyone will be really pumped up for that.”