Michigan State hockey tops Bowling Green, 3-2, for Danton Cole's first win

Taro Hirose’s goal with 40 seconds to play in the third period snapped a 2-2 tie and lifted the Michigan State hockey team past Bowling Green, 3-2, on Saturday night at Munn Ice Arena. The win was the first for coach Danton Cole and evened MSU’s record at 1-1.

“It was a lot of fun tonight. Obviously, the guys did an outstanding job,” said Cole. “It has been a pretty good evolution for our team. They’re going to work hard, they’re going to do some good stuff and we’re going to have to win games like that. I’m really happy for the 25 guys in our locker room.”

MORE:Michigan State hockey loses season opener under new coach Danton Cole

With the game tied 2-2 after 40 minutes, the Spartans controlled the play for most of the third period, outshooting BG 16-5 in the stanza. MSU came close on several occasions and finally got the tiebreaking goal with 40 seconds to play.

After a shot by Patrick Khodorenko was turned away, Mitchell Lewandowski got ahold of the puck in the right circle and got it to Hirose, who was near the right point. Hirose made a pair of moves around two Falcons and let a shot go from the low slot that got past BG goaltender Ryan Bednard on the short side.

The Spartans grabbed a 1-0 lead with 6:14 to play in the first as rookie Tommy Apap scored the first goal of his career.

Bowling Green (1-2) made it 1-1 with 4:59 to go in the first off a shot by Brandon Kruse on the power play.

An odd-man situation for BG led to the Falcons getting their first lead of the game 4:10 into the second period. Shane Bednard found his way to the low slot and put a feed from Chris Pohlkamp past MSU goaltender John Lethemon.

The Spartans tied the game on the power play at 1:49 on a shot from low in the right circle by Khodorenko. Carson Gatt and Hirose worked the puck to Khodorenko in the slot, who then skated low in the right circle and let a shot go that beat Bednard up high.

MSU ended the game with a 35-24 advantage in shots on goal.

Lethemon made 22 saves to earn the win in goal for the Spartans.

The Spartans will take on Western Michigan in a home-and-home series next weekend, beginning Friday at Munn at 7:05 p.m.

- MSU Athletic Communications