Failure that feels familiar as U falls again

The Gophers wore their gold jerseys Friday for the first time this hockey season.

Trouble was, the change in attire made little difference in how they played. The Gophers, as they have in four previous home games this season, quickly fell behind and couldn't catch up.

Michigan State scored three unanswered goals in the first nine minutes en route to a 5-2 victory over the Gophers at Mariucci Arena in the College Hockey Showcase.

Senior winger Dustin Gazley's second goal of the game for the Spartans, late in the second period, was the back-breaker. It gave MSU a two-goal lead after the Gophers had rallied to within 3-2.

The Spartans (5-6-3) were a team looking for goals and confidence. Michigan State was on a three-game losing streak and had a nine-game winless streak (0-4-5) against the Gophers, all in showcase games, dating to 2000.

"Michigan State needed energy early, and they were able to get it with those early goals," Gophers coach Don Lucia said.

The Spartans, who were shut out 3-0 Tuesday by Ferris State, looked like an offensive juggernaut in the opening minutes.

Exactly six minutes later, junior winger Brett Perlini made it 3-0.

Gophers goalie Kent Patterson went into the game with a 6-0-1 record and a 91.4 save percentage. The Spartans scored three goals on their first six shots on net.

"Kent had played so well for us all season long," Lucia said. "It wasn't his night tonight."

Alex Kangas, who had not played since Nov. 5, replaced Patterson and stopped 21 of 23 shots.

"[Kangas] did a good job in relief," Lucia said. "That was a real positive for me."

Senior defenseman Cade Fairchild of the Gophers (7-5-1) scored the first goal on a power play in the sixth minute. Taylor Matson got the next goal in the 11th minute.

"We got on each other in the locker room a little bit" after the opening period, Matson said. "We knew we had come out stronger."

It stayed 3-2 until the Spartans got a fortunate bounce late in the middle period. Gazley, on a 2-on-1 rush, tried to pass the puck across the slot. Instead it hit defenseman Seth Helgeson's stick and caromed past Kangas with 1:50 left on the clock.

Derek Grant added an insurance goal for the Spartans on a power play midway through the final period. MSU was 2-for-4 on the power play, the Gophers 1-for-3.

Drew Palmisano stopped 29 shots for the Spartans in evening his record at 5-5-3.