March 29, 2008

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - A pair of Notre Dame goals scored just over a minute apart in the late stages of the third period broke open a 1-1 game and propelled the Irish to a 3-1 victory over Michigan State in the West Regional final in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Saturday evening. Justin Abdelkader had the only score for Michigan State, which completes its season with a 25-12-5 record.

The teams were meeting in a rematch of last year's NCAA Midwest Regional final, a game Michigan State won, 2-1. MSU had earned three points in the regular-season series with the Irish - a 3-1 victory at Munn Arena, and a 1-1 deadlock at the Joyce Center in South Bend.

The Irish struck twice - at 14:06 and 15:20 - of the third period to seal the victory. They had regained the lead at 14:06 - after a giveaway behind the Spartan net, the puck went seemingly harmlessly into the left corner. Ben Ryan brought it out and had the puck high over the left circle, and put it into the skates of Mark VanGuilder - who corralled it and put the puck past the glove hand of Jeff Lerg. Blueliner Teddy Ruth's blast from the left point found its intended target just over a minute later to give Notre Dame some insurance.

Michigan State came out aggressive early and had some quality chances, but Jordan Pearce had saves on Michael Ratchuk, Bryan Lerg, and Tim Kennedy early that kept the Spartan offense off the board despite a 6-1 shot advantage in the opening five minutes. MSU had its first power play at 5:01 when Irish defenseman Brock Sheahan was whistled for hooking; despite continued pressure deep in the offensive zone throughout the man advantage, it was Jeff Lerg with the best save as the Irish sprung on a three-on-one break - Dan Kissel carried the puck in, and passed to avoid an MSU defender who went down for the blocked shot. Brett Blatchford tried to float the pass past Jeff Lerg, but the goalie came up with the big blocker save to keep the game scoreless.

Notre Dame jumped on the board at 2:43 of the middle frame. The Spartans had trouble getting the puck over the red line, and got caught deep. Christian Hanson had the puck below the goal line and came out to the right of Jeff Lerg; Lerg made the save, but Hanson put back the rebound five-hole for his 13th of the season.

Abdelkader's rocket from just inside the blue line at 5:15 of the period had Pearce beat over his glove-hand, but ricocheted off the crossbar and play continued. Abdelkader made his next good chance count, netting the equalizer at 9:55. Tim Kennedy and Tim Crowder held the puck low in the left corner, and Crowder made a nifty pass to Kennedy at the bottom of the left circle. Kennedy put a soft pass on to the stick of Abdelkader in the top of the circle, and his shot beat Pearce high glove-side. It was his career-best 19th of the season.

Notre Dame had a goal disallowed at 14:44 - originally credited to Evan Rankin; it was called back due to interference with the goaltender in the crease.

Abdelkader, freshman defenseman Jeff Petry, and Jeff Lerg were named to the All-Tournament team; they were joined by Brock Sheahan, Christian Hanson, and Most Outstanding Player Mark Van Guilder from Notre Dame.

NOTES: Michigan State was making its third consecutive appearance in an NCAA Regional Final . . . For the sixth straight meeting between the teams, neither squad scored a first-period goal. The last time either team scored in the opening frame was Feb. 1, 2006 - and it was scored by David Booth, now a second-year pro with the Florida Panthers . . . MSU is now 0-4-0 in neutral-site games this season . . . The Spartans are 3-11-3 when allowing their opponent to score first, and 2-4-2 when tied after two periods . . . Tim Kennedy has scored a point in each of the eight NCAA Tournament games for the Spartans over the last three years. Justin Abdelkader has points in seven of eight games.