MSU Spartans
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Jan. 31, 1998

Spartan Hockey Blanks Miami, 7-0

Box Score

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Friday night, Michigan State figured a few good offensive bounces would have changed the 1-1 tie score in its favor. Saturday night, the Spartans found out what a few dozen of those good bounces would do.

Michigan State romped to a 7-0 victory over Miami, the fifth-ranked team in the nation and the third-place team in the CCHA, in front of 6,502 at Munn Ice Arena.

The Spartans, ranked No. 1 in the nation and trailing Michigan by two points in the CCHA standings but with a game in hand, started the scoring just 25 seconds into the game and never looked back.

Whereas Friday night's 41 MSU shots produced one goal, Saturday the Spartans were frighteningly efficient, scoring seven goals on 33 shots, including six goals on their first 19 shots.

The overall effort included some defensive heroics as well, as Michigan State shut out the top-rated offense in the CCHA. It marks MSU's fifth shutout of the season, a new team record.

Among the stars who emerged:

  • Shawn Horcoff: scored two goals and added an assist. Chad Alban: stopped 21 shots for his fifth shutout of the season and the 11th of his career, both MSU records. He also earned his ninth career CCHA shutout, moving the Hobey Baker candidate past Michigan's Marty Turco in that category.
  • Rustyn Dolyny: The freshman had the opening goal which got the ball rolling for MSU and added assists on the final four goals.
  • Sean Berens: Had his team-high 23rd goal of the year.
  • Mike York: Scored his 20th goal of the season and the 50th of his career.
  • Mike Weaver: The enthusiastic defenseman led a defense which blocked 19 shots, finishing +4 and among the three stars of the game for the second night in a row. He had two assists as well, but his presence was noticed most in the defensive end.
  • Tyler Harlton: Weaver's defense partner also finished +4, moving him to a phenomenal +27 on the year, a figure which leads the CCHA.
  • Ron Mason: the Spartan mentor earned his 797th career victory as his team moves to 22-3-4 (14-3-3 CCHA) with a decisive victory over the No. 5 team in the nation.

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