Michigan 5 LAKE SUPERIOR 2 at JLA (Detroit) LSSU dominated the first period, but only came away with a 1-0 lead. Michigan dominated the second period, and went to the lockeroom with a 5-2 lead. No scoring in the third. Scoring by periods this one might be 1-1-1, but scoring by goals it was 5-2. And, strange as it may seem, I think defenseman Ted Laviolette was one of (if not the) best Laker on the ice. MICHIGAN STATE 2 Michigan 1 at JLA (Detroit) MSU played like their playoff fortunes depended on this game. (To some extent they do.) UM looked more like a team that has everything in the bag. (Which they more- or-less do, CCHA-wise.) Motivation, motivation, motivation. It was a scoreless tie after two periods. (As for the disallowed MSU goal, I heard the whistle several seconds before the puck went in. I thought there might be a penalty on MSU for continuing the play.) In the third period, Mike York dribbled one past Marty Turco that Marty had a glove on before it crossed the line but couldn't quite gather it in. Probably one he wishes he had back. Shortly thereafter, Tony Tuzzolino was parked down low on the PP and he tipped in a Chris Bogas shot from the point to give MSU a 2-0 lead. It was a good goal, one that Turco didn't have a chance on because it changed direction a few feet from the net. The Spartan defense shut the door from there. Blake Sloan scored for UM in the final five minutes to make it 2-1. The shot wasn't going to score, but it hit defenseman Tyler Harlton's skate and changed direction on Chad Alban. Alban played very well in the MSU goal, as did Turco at UM's end. Michigan can usually expect a sweep when they only allow four goals over a weekend series. Other Wolverines that had moments of brilliance were defenseman Chris Frescoln (who blocked three shots on one shift) and forward Greg Crozier (who is looking more and more comfortable at this level). UM falls to 25-2-3 with both losses to MSU while the Spartans are in much better position now to make the NCAA dozen. STAT NOTE: UM's John Madden scored his 6th shorthanded goal of the season (21st of his career) on Friday to tie Miami's Randy Robitaille for the CCHA/NCAA lead. UM's Matt Herr and Warren Luhning both have five each. HOBEY NOTE: No disrespect to any of the Eastern stars (Drury, Perrin, St Louis, Thomas, White, et al), but if I had a Hobey vote it would say Brendan Morrison. He's the best player on the best team. (Someone recently pointed out to me how he gets less ice time because of that...resting during the third period of games that are easily won.) I'm not going to get on a soapbox and give you 100 reasons why Morrison should win, but I will say this...remember Scott Pellerin in 1992? I'm willing to bet that everything used to describe Pellerin can be used to describe Morrison...and Morrison is a more talented player on the ice. John Haeussler ([log in to unmask]) HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.