While the better team, BU has the lowest scoring percentage of all the teams in the tournament, so the offense needs to step up for a couple goals, and goalie John Curry needs to have another big game.
First Period: BU 1, MSU 1 Both teams have been playing well, with BU getting a few more chances. Both goalies have been strong between the pipes, with the goals given up the only real bad moments. And on both goals, the netminder's didn't have much of a shot at stopping them. This is where BU's lack of offense comes into play. With a 1-1 game, they need at least a pair to break open the game. With their anemic offense, that's going to be a challenge. And with 40 minutes to go, Curry has to be almost perfect having already given up 1. The next goal will be a big momentum boost for either team.
* 2 minutes in, BU's McCarthy breaks in a fires a wrister that is stopped by Michigan St.
* 6 minutes in BU's Ryan Weston takes a pass behind the defense, dekes around goalie Jeff Lerg, and throws a backhand over the Lerg's shoulder. The pucks pops up behind the netminder, so Weston knocks it out of mid-air, making sure it would make it into the net for the first score of the game.
* BU takes a penalty with just over 11 minutes left in the first.
* With 40 seconds left on the power-play, MSU turns over the puck on the point, and BU comes in 2-on-1, getting a shot off. MSU gets a holding penalty in the process to make it 4-on-4.
* Brandon Yip gets tied up with Lerg, no goaltender interference is called.
* Matching roughing penalties are called with 7:51 left in the first.
* With 7:08 to go, MSU gets a power-play goal by Tim Kennedy over Curry's left shoulder.
Second Period: MSU 4, BU 1 Coach Parker better have one hell of a pep-talk ready for his Terriers if they're going to have any chance at winning this game. The defense is breaking down and allowing MSU to get rebounds and close shots that are turning into goals. In fairness to Curry, he is playing a decent game that should probably be 2-1 MSU. BU's lack of offense will be a problem, but there is still a chance that they can pull even and force overtime.
* Tim Crowder scores a goal 1:11 into the 2nd to give MSU a 2-1 lead.
* Through the first 5 minutes MSU is keeping up pressure on BU, controlling much of the puck in the offensive zone.
* 5:22 in, MSU's Jay Sprague knocks in a rebound from the right side of the crease to increase MSU's lead to 3-1.
* MSU gets a power-play with 9:27 left, but is unable to score.
* BU's Tom Morrow is kicked out of the game with 6 minutes and change to go in the 2nd. No one, not even the announcers are sure what he got called for.
(Update: Morrow got 5 for cross-checking and a game misconduct. The cross-check looked worse than it was. The penalty was a little excessive)
* Justin Abdelkader came out of the box and collected the puck for a breakaway, but was stoned by Curry.
* 4-on-4, Daniel Vukovic fires a wrister from the bottom of the circle over Curry's right shoulder to make it 4-1 MSU.
Third Period: MSU 5, BU 1 After the second it was apparent that BU had almost no chance of coming back. Curry played a decent game; it wasn't as bad as the score seemed. BU's defense should have played a hell of a lot better. MSU's 5th goal came off a full-length pass from MSU's goal line to BU's blue line that leads to a short breakaway that ends up a goal. With both defensemen covering the forward, there's no way he should get that pass and break in alone. While the BU offense should have stepped up, the D should have played better too.
* MSU takes a penalty a minute into the 3rd. BU fails to set up anything resembling an offensive formation.
* An MSU player gets a home-run pass for a breakaway that he roofs to make it 5-1 MSU. BU is officially done.
* BU's Luke Popco gets 5 minutes for spearing and a game misconduct with 7:30 to go. It's clear that BU has no hopes of winning this game.
