Friday, 25 February 1994 at East Lansing
 
FSU-  2    1    3  -   6
MSU-  0    2    2  -   4
 
First period- 1, FSU Passarelli 10 (Parrish) 9:42
              2, FSU Christian 20 (Gruden, Roach) 12:53
                Penalties- Kitching, FSU (cross-check) 0:37
                           Murray, MSU (charging) 14:51
 
Second period- 3, MSU Turner 5 0:37
               4, FSU Smith 17 (Duff) 6:46
               5, MSU Carter 22 (Burkett, Murray) 16:35
                Penalties- Tuzzolino, MSU (double rough, 10-min. misconduct)
                                        9:30
                           Vanstaalduinen, MSU (rough) 9:30
                           Hunt, FSU (double rough, 10-min. misconduct) 9:30
                           Harvey, FSU (rough) 9:30
 
Third period- 6, FSU Smith 18 (Gruden, Lisko) 13:45
              7, FSU Bell 7 (Crimin, Anderson) 14:29
              8, MSU Perrault 5 (Ferranti) 14:50
              9, MSU Ferranti 5 (Tuzzolino) 17:16
             10, FSU Smith 19 (Gruden) 17:47
                Penalty- FSU bench (too many men) 5:48
 
Goaltender saves- MSU, Buzak  8-5-4---17
                  FSU, Lisko  6-4-14---28
 
Power plays- MSU 0-2, FSU 0-1
 
Referees- Matt Shegos, Shell
Linesman- Kelly
 
A- 6,620
 
In all likelihood, come around 10:00pm Saturday night, barring an unforseen
miracle, the Michigan State Spartans will find themselves in fourth place in
the CCHA with the very good possibility of being outside looking in at the
NC$$ playoffs.  What on paper looked like an excellent chance to put up four
points and try to get a firmer grab on second place in the conference has turnedinto a one-point weekend.  Since MSU loses tiebreakers with both LSSU and WMU,
with BG now only five points back, the Spartans are in deep s--t.
 
The Spartans played extremely sloppy defense on Friday night and Buzak was any-
thing but sharp in the net.  Ferris St. outhustled MSU.  It seemed like every
third or fourth minute there was another Ferris St. breakaway.  The Spartan
offense at most times was anemic at best (I can't remember the most recent time
that we had 30 shots on goal in a game, and Friday was no exception).
 
The Spartans now find themselves in absolutely "must-win" situations.  Unless
Lake Superior slips up (which, IMO, is unlikely with UIC and Kent twice), our
chances to finish second are slim and none.  With one game remaining against
WMU, the Spartans can sort of control their own destiny as far as finishing
third.  Fourth in this conference is not where you want to be come playoff time.While MSU has beaten UM twice, those were regular season games.  Playoffs is
a whole different story.  The only problem with the WMU game: it's at Munn.
 
G. M. Finniss
Michigan State University
where losing to Ferris isn't an upset, it's becoming a DAMN TRADITION!