Michigan State's Lethemon stops Notre Dame cold
SOUTH BEND — Logan Lambdin had the insurance goal after assisting on the game-winner in the second period and goalie John Lethemon turned away 40 Notre Dame shots as Michigan State scored a 3-1 Big Ten Conference hockey victory before 5,265 fans at the Lefty Smith Rink in the Compton Family Ice Arena Friday night.
Dennis Cesana had the eventual game-winning goal for the Spartans (15-17-1, 11-11-1-0 for 34 points Big Ten) at 5:53 with assists from Lambdin and Jerad Rosburg.
It came after Michigan State had taken a 1-0 lead at 13:43 of the first period on Tommy Asap’s goal.
Notre Dame (14-13-6, 9-9-5-3 for 35 points Big Ten) tied it at 1-1 just 1:23 into the second period on Colin Theisen’s eighth of the season with assists from Mike O’Leary and Spencer Stastney.
Lethemon turned away 12 shots in the first period, 15 in the second and 14 in the third in outdueling Notre Dame’s Cale Morris, who finished with 26 saves.
The teams conclude the regular season Saturday at 6 p.m.
MICHIGAN STATE 3, NOTRE DAME 1
At Lefty Smith Rink, South Bend
Michigan State;1;2;0—3
Notre Dame;0;1;0—1
First Period—Scoring: 1. Michigan State, Tommy Asap 7 (Butrus Ghafari, Austin Kamer) EV 13:43. Penalties: Michigan State 0-0, Notre Dame 2-4.
Second Period—Scoring: 2. Notre Dame, Colin Theisen 8 (Mike O’Leary, Spencer Stastney) EV 1:23. 3. Michigan State, Dennis Cesana 7 (Logan Lambdin, Jerad Rosburg) EV 5:53; 4. Michigan State, Logan Lambdin 6 (Josh Nodler) EV 15:16. Penalties (total): Michigan State 1-2 (1-2), Notre Dame 0-0 (2-4).
Third Period—Scoring: None. Penalties (total): Michigan State 2-4 (3-6), Notre Dame 0-0 (2-4).
Power-play opportunities—Michigan State 0 of 2, Notre Dame 0 of 3.
Faceoffs won—Michigan State 29, Notre Dame 24.
Blocked shots—Michigan State 21, Notre Dame 14.
Shots on goal—Michigan State 29 (12-11-6), Notre Dame 41 (12-15-14).
Goalie saves—Michigan State, John Lethemon 40 (12-14-14), Notre Dame, Cale Morris 26 (11-9-6).
Records—Michigan State 15-17-1 (11-11-1-0 Big Ten), Notre Dame 14-13-6 (9-9-5-3 Big Ten).
A—5,265 (4,850).
