College Hockey – Friday night recaps

By Brian Kalisher –

Bowling Green at Michigan State

Michigan State grabbed a 5-1 win Friday night to start off a weekend series with Bowling Green. There was no shortage of points for MSU; four Spartans notched a goal and an assist in the contest.   The Spartans’ Kevin Walrod gave his team the lead just 20 seconds into the game, and MSU never looked back. Senior defenseman Matt Crandell contributed with three assists, while goalie Drew Palmisano saved 21 shots.  The win gave Michigan State their third in a row.

See our recap from the game: Spartans fly over Falcons

Michigan at Alaska

The Wolverines are braving a frozen December weekend in Alaska as they visit Fairbanks to take on the Nanooks. In Friday’s contest, Alaska got the best of the No. 19 Wolverines 4-3.  Alaska’s Colton Beck scored twice on the night.  Beck’s goals were among four scored by the Nanooks’ sophomore class.  Cody Kunyk and Michael Quinn got the other pair for the Nanooks.  Senior goaltender Scott Greenham stopped 31 of the Wolverines’ 34 shots, and helped his team avoid a collapse in a third period that saw 17 shots from the visitors. A.J. Treais, Lee Moffie and David Wohlberg scored for Michigan, who dropped to 7-8-2 on the season.

Western Michigan at Ferris State

The Western Michigan Broncos invaded Ewigleben Arena in Big Rapids on Friday night to take on the Ferris State Bulldogs.  The Broncos’ Matt Tennyson put forth a strong third-period effort, scoring two goals and leading his team to a win over Ferris State, ending their five-game drought.  Broncos freshman goalie Frank Slubowski stopped 23 pucks, while freshman defenseman Jordan Oesterle punched in his first collegiate goal in the third period.  The squads are set to face-off again Saturday night at Lawson Ice Arena in Kalamazoo.

Lake Superior State at Ohio State

Ohio State hosted Lake Superior State on Friday night at Value City Arena.  The Buckeyes posted a 5-2 win to avenge their first-round knock-out in last year’s CCHA playoffs against the Lakers.  Ohio State carried a 2-0 lead into the third period.  The final frame consisted of back and forth scoring, but it ended up being the Buckeyes’ Danny Dries – who had 2 goals on the night – that came away with the game-winner at 4:50 of the third.  Freshmen Kevin Czuczman and Buddy Robinson had LSSU’s only goals.  The two clubs meet again Saturday night at 8:05 p.m.

Miami at Northern Michigan

Brian Nugent scored the game-winner with 2:10 left in the third period to lift the Wildcats to a 2-1 win over Miami. It was the second game-winning goal for Nugent on the season; he scored the deciding goal against Michigan State on Nov. 19. Jared Coreau made 25 saves to improve his record to 3-1-1.