4B - The Michigan Daily - SPORTSMonday - February 23, 1998 HOCKEYi *You can't really pinpoint c was just a whole bunch of "Fv Key play: Late in the first period Saturday the puck took a funny bounce off' the boards to Mike York, who put it into the empty net to give the Spartans a 10 lead. Alban overshadow Michigan's goalies By Shwat Ra uf Daily Sports Editor DETROIT -The media, the players and the coaches for Michigan and Michigan State often talk about the rivalry between the two schools. No two players personify that rivalry better than the goaltenders - Marty Turco and Chad Alban. But in his last chance to play against the Spartans at Munn Ice Arena, the Wolverines' netminder was absent from his usual place between the pipes. Turco was benched by Michigan coach Red Berenson for Friday's game - arguably the biggest game of the season - for missing classes. "I let the team down ... in terms of one of your leaders doing something stupid, that doesn't represent myself well or the school," Turco said. "I apol- ogized to the guys, and we've got to move on." On the other side of the ice, Michigan State's netminder didn't have any suspensions to worry about. Alban played well, holding the Wolverines to a mere two goals in two games. He made 42 saves over the weekend. "We get credit a lot of times for being a good defensive team," Michigan State coach Ron Mason said. "You can't be a good defensive team if you don't have a good goalie." With Turco out, senior Gregg Malicke got the nod for Michigan. Malicke, who transferred from Clarkson after one year, started for the first time as a Wolverine on Friday. "It was great to play a full game, n doubt about it," Malicke said. "I wis the outcome was different. But I'm nc disappointed in my performance. made the saves that I had to, and I thin I didn't get some bounces." Although Friday's 5-1 outcome d n't suggest a strong goaltending per mance, the Rochester Hills nativ turned away 24 shots. He fell victim t defensive collapses by the Wolverines "I thought Malicke was fine, Berenson said. "He was not a factor i: the game." At Munn, the fans were ruthles toward Turco, a man who wasn't eve: playing. One sign held up before the g read, 'Hey Turco, how's class?' Chant of 'Where is Turco?' turned into 'W want Turco,' after the Spartans got ou to a sizable lead. The crowd "was kind of cool, Malicke said. "I got a kick out of it. was actually kind of chuckling when went out there and they were sayin 'Turco, been to school lately?' Yoi gotta love the fans. The fans make th game what it is." As it turned out, Turco couldn't ml the difference when he took his usua place on the ice at Joe Louis Arena. Turco made 15 saves against th Spartans, but his presence on the ici wasn't enough to deter Michigai State's offense - or a Michigan Stat victory. Michigan State 4, Michigan :1 Michigan St. 1 1 2 -4 Michigan 0 0 1 - 1 First period -1. MSU, York 22 (Hodgins, Kosakowski), 18:38 (pp). Penalties - MSU, Harlton (interference), 2:45, MSU, OKeefe (tripping), 11:18 UM, Fox (interference) 18:31. Second period -2. MSU Berens 30 (Dolyny, York), 2:54 (pp). Penalties - UM, Rominski (interfer- ence), 2:05: UM, Rominski (5-minute major, slash- ing), 5:35; MSU, Bogle (slashing); 11:09. Third period - 3.. MSU Whitten 3 (Berens, O'Keefe), 11:40; 1. UM, Hayes 19 (Van Ryn, Muckalt), 11:57; 4. MSU, York (unassisted), 18:51. Penalties - None. Shots on goal - MSU 4-11-4 - 19: UM 10-5-7 - 22. Power Plays - MSU 2 of 3; UM 0 of 3. Saves - MSU, Alban 10-5-6 - 21; UM, Turco 3-10- 2 - 15. Referee - Matt Shegos. Unesmen -John Dobrzelewski, Dave Kronenberg. At: Joe Louis Arena A: 19,983 *1J.Llme t.r. me||mimm| JOHN KRAFT/Daily Backup goaltender Gregg Malicke made an admirable attempt when he stepped into the skates of suspended Michigan net- minder Marty Turco, stopping 24 of 29 shots against Michigan State on Friday night. Mason cature1s 800th froj"nt o home-ice crowd r 0 iml rl1t:l AB,'M!.nIi1[' E ('i 1{ iQx 3 AIiiG Michigan State 5, Michigan 13 Michigan St. 3 1 1 -5 Michigan 0 1 0 - 1 First period -1. MSU, Adams 7 (York, Dolyny), 3:30; 2. MSU, Berens 27 (OKeefe, Gaskins), 11:07; 3. MSU, Berens 28 (OKeefe, Harlton), 19:38. Penalties - UM, Kosick (hooking). 7:51; UM, Hayes (double-minor, roughing), 16:33. Second period -1. UM, Herr 8 (Kosick, Langfeld), 3:57 (pp); 4. MSU, Dolyny 16 (Bogas, Berens), 8:06 (pp). Penalties - MSU, Hodgins (roughing), 2:54; UM, bench (too-many men), 7:05; MSU, Patchell (cross-checking), 15:20. Third period - 5. MSU, Berens 29 (unassisted), 6:25. Penalties - MSU, O'Keefe (hooking), 0:36; UM, Herr (roughing), 4:17; MSU, Harton (roughing), 11:32; UM, Merrick (roughing, cross-checking), 11:32. Shots on goal - MSU 11-5-13 - 29; UM 4-11-7 - 22. Power Plays --MSU 2 of 6; UM1 of 3. Saves - MSU, Alban 4-10-7 - 21; UM, Malicke 8- 412 - 24. Referee - Duke Shegos. Unesmen - John Nowosatka, Steve Mcinchak At: Munn Ice Arena. A: 6,689. By Pranay Redty Daily Sports Writer DETROIT - The stories floating around Michigan State's 5-1 victory over Michigan on Friday night were plentiful: Michigan State's stingy neutral-zone trap ver- sus Michigan's potent offense. Backup goaltender Gregg Malicke playing for suspended Michigan netminder Marty Turco. The Spartans vying for first place in the CCHA. (Probably the most important) Michigan ver- sus Michigan State. _-- .-.,_..__- But for a few minutes after Hockey Friday's game, all those story- lines took a back seat to one Notebook man -- Michigan State coach -...---- _-- Ron Mason. Friday's victory gave Mason the 800th of his career, the most by any coach in college hockey his- tory. Despite the milestone, Mason was more con- cerned that Friday's victory put his Spartans in place to gain the CCHA lead with a win Saturday night against the Wolverines at Joe Louis Arena. "Well, I'm more interested in playing for first place than I am for 800 wins," Mason said. "The outshowing of affection after the game, that's some- thing I've never had happen. To see something like that, it touches you.: Mason referred to the rush of fans onto the ice at Munn Ice Arena following the victory. Prior to the game, 800 fans were given cardboard signs with a 'W' printed on each. After the win, Mason stayed on the ice as the fans rushed down to congratulate the coach on his achievement. In addition to fans, a notable peer of Mason also added his share of congratulations. "For anyone to stick in college coaching that long is a real tribute," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "I congratulate Ron Mason. He's done a great job" IN THE ZONE: In the week leading up to the games, much of the talk centered around Michigan State's effective, yet debated, neutral-zone trap. Hockey purists argue that the defensive style slows down the college game. But after the weekend's display, Michigan State's defense wasn't the only unit being discussed. The Spartans lit up the Wolverines with nine goals in the two games - not bad for a defensively oriented team. Even in its offense, the talk came back to Michigan State's defense. "We basically get our offense from our defense," Michigan State center Mike York said. "We get our breaks and our bounces, and we took advantage." Nevertheless, Mason didn't shy away from laying praise on his entire team - not just the defense. "We're a well-rounded hockey team," Mason said. "Our power play is best in the league, our penalty killing is outstanding, our goals-against is Dave good and our offense is good. agat "We still pride ourselves on being able to play Spar defense, because that's where our strength is." SPARTANS Continued from Page 18 But Friday's spanking woke up the Wolverines for Saturday's matchup. A sellout crowd of 19,983 Michigan and Michigan State fans filled the Joe with a tangible energy from the opening faceoff, and the Wolverines responded. Michigan attacked the Spartans' neutral-zone trap, peppering Michigan State goaltender Chad Alban with 10 shots in the first period. But Alban came up with save after save, and all it took was a fluke play during a Michigan State power play for the Wolverines to give up the game's first goal and head into the second period down 1-0. After 18:38 of the first, the puck ricocheted unexpectedly off the board behind Michigan's net, directly to the stick of Michigan State's Mike York. Michigan goalie Mary Turco had left the net to clear the puck, giving York an essentially open-net goal. The puck "was coming around the glass," Turco said. "I was just about to stick out my hand to stop it, and it hit the partition right in front of me, the last of the zamboni ones. It bounced out, and it happened so quick, I just looked around and it was right on York's stick." As frustrating as it was to go down on a bizarre mishap after outplaying the Spartans all YERS/Daily period. Berenson said the Wolverines tried to nst maintain their composure. "You can't overreact to that," Berenson said. -f ,_. ooplll o MARGARET MYERS e Huntzicker and the rest of Michigan's defense put forth a better effort in Saturday night's game nst Michigan State at Joe Louis Arena. Unfortunately for the Wolverines, it was to no avail, as the 'tans won the game, 4-1. "Obviously, it was a big goal ... and I thought we played pretty well in the second:' Michigan played well - but not as well as in the first. The Wolverines were outshot, 11-5, by the Spartans during the second period, and allowed another power-play goal in the open- ing minutes of the period. Michigan was only down by two goals head- ing into the third, but Michigan State's trap man- aged to slow the game to a turtle's pace in the first half of the final stanza. The first shot by either team was taken five minutes into the peri- od, and the monotony was practically enough to put the most zealous fans at the Joe to sleep. Then, with 8:20 remaining, both teams woke up. Michigan State's Damon Whitten beat Turco top-shelf offa pass behind the goal line from Sean Berens. Less than a minute later, Michigan coun- tered with its only goal when Bobby Hayes deflected in a shot from the point by Mike Van Ryn. Even though the Wolverines were down by two goals, the momentum had shifted quickly in Michigan's favor. Berenson pulled Turco from the game with a little over two minutes left, but York scored a true open-net goal, destroying any hopes of a comeback. In Friday's game, thoughts of a comeback were practically abandoned after the first period. Backup Gregg Malicke started in net in place of Turco, who sat out for academic rea- sons. The first start of Malicke's career wasn't exactly a pleasant one. Sloppy Michigan pla gave the Spartans the edge all night, an Michigan State outshot the Wolverines, 29-22 on the evening. Two defensive breakdowns by the Wolverine, equaled two goals for Michigan State at 3:30 11:07 of the first period. Alban stoned Michiga forward Bill Muckalt on a fast break with thre minutes left in the first period, and the Spartan scored their third goal 2 1/2 minutes later. The never looked back. Michigan captain Matt Herr score Michigan's first and only goal at 3:57 of the sec ond, but Michigan State came back with anothe goal just four minutes later. Berens ended th scoring with an unassisted goal off a faceoff a 6:25 in the third period, giving the center a trick on the evening - the first tallied aga the Wolverines all season. The two victories this weekend gave th Spartans a sweep of their conference games wit Michigan. It was the first time the Wolverine were swept in a CCHA series since 1988-89 when the Spartans again took the honors. "There's no way I feel good walking awa from this rink with two losses agains Michigan State my senior year," Herr said "And I want the freshmen and everybody on our team to feel that exact same way. I wan every single guy on that team to take it person ally, these two losses, because I know I do, an the rest of the seniors do." MARGARET M Michigan forward Geoff Koch had a difficult time again Michigan State's rugged defense - so did the rest of Michigan's offense. ............................................................................................................................... _ -- - - - - .... ,_ _ A