State takes care of business; Fighting Irish roll

The CCHA returned to action with its first full week of conference play this weekend, with no major upsets being registered. Michigan State still leads the CCHA by one point over Michigan, but the Wolverines have a game in hand.

Joe Blackburn returned in goal for Michigan State, after his sabbatical on the U.S. Junior team, and found success in the friendly confines of home. Blackburn turned away 20 shots as the Spartans skated away with a 3-1 victory over Bowling Green on Saturday.

After goals by Damon Whitten and Bryan Adams gave Michigan State a 2-0 lead, the Falcons scored with just 17 seconds left in the game to give themselves a chance to tie. But Mike York's 14th goal of the season, an empty-netter with one second remaining, closed the door.

The victory came a night after the Spartans whitewashed Miami 5-1 in East Lansing on Friday night. Heading into the third period protecting a slim 2-1 lead, Michigan State scored three times in the final stanza, including two tallies from York.

Mike Gresl notched his seventh victory this season by making 17 saves in a solid effort.

Notre Dame finished a perfect weekend, with victories on the road at Bowling Green, and against Miami in South Bend. On Saturday, the Fighting Irish hit paydirt twice in the third period to unlock a scoreless tie at home.

Brian Urick's power-play goal gave Notre Dame the lead just 3:40 into the third period, and Ben Simon's goal at 16:07 of the final period closed out the victory.

Friday against Bowling Green, the Fighting Irish broke up a tight 1-1 contest with three straight scores.

Benoit Cotnoir scored two of the three, and Aniket Dhadphale added the other. Forrest Karr continued a stellar senior season with 26 saves.

Western Michigan and Alaska-Fairbanks split games in their battle for eighth place in the CCHA and the final conference playoff spot.

Ian Perkins made 29 saves to pace the Nanooks' 4-1 victory Saturday at Lawson Ice Arena. Alaska-Fairbanks staked itself to a 2-0 lead and never looked back.

The Broncos drew first blood on Friday, using three consecutive second-period goals to erase a 1-0 Alaska-Fairbanks lead and hold on for the 3-2 victory. Freshman goaltender Jeff Reynaert made 26 saves for Western Michigan.

Lake Superior surprised Ohio State in the Schottenstein Center on Saturday, stealing a 3-2 victory two days after being shelled 8-2 by the Buckeyes. On Saturday, Fred Slukynsky's fifth goal of the season, just 28 seconds into the third period, was the deciding factor for the Lakers.

- Compiled by Daily Sports Writer Chris Duprey.

01-11-99