Gophers fall to Michigan State
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Brian Maloney scored the game-winning goal with less than two minutes to play as Michigan State beat Minnesota 3-2 Friday night in a battle between the nation's top two teams.
Maloney scored on an assist from Adam Hall and Brad Fast at 18:32 of the final period in the College Hockey Showcase at Mariucci Arena. It was Minnesota's first loss at home this season.
Minnesota had tied the game at 12:40 of the third when Aaron Miskovich scored short-handed on an assist from Paul Martin. It was Miskovich's fifth goal of the season and Martin's first point as a Golden Gopher.
The late flurry of goals was preceded by a scoreless second period and a tame first, in which Stuart Senden scored his first goal of the season for the Gophers (9-2-2, 7-1-2 WCHA) at 13:36. Senden was assisted by Matt Leimbek.
Poor Gophers defense allowed the Spartans to score two goals in 46 seconds in the third and take a 2-1 lead.
Steve Clark slipped unnoticed to the Gophers' net to score the Spartans' first goal at 3:20. After Jon Insana shot from the right point, the puck bounced to the bottom of the left circle, and Clark scooped up the rebound. With no defenders in sight, he flipped it past Adam Hauser.
A 4:06, Jeremy Jackson carried the puck into the Gophers' zone on the left side, burst past a defender and put the puck past Hauser.
After Miskovich's tying goal, Minnesota's Dylan Mills was penalized for high sticking at 17:27, and Maloney beat Hauser from the right circle less than on minute later.
Minnesota entered the game ranked No. 1 in the USA Today/American Hockey Magazine poll and No. 2 in the USCHO.com poll. The Spartans (9-1-2, 7-1-2 CCHA) were ranked just the opposite -- No. 2 in the USA Today/American Hockey Magazine poll and No. 1 in the USCHO.com poll.