Lansing State Journal sports reporter Nathaniel Bott breaks down Michigan State hockey's 4-3 win over No. 16 UMass-Lowell on Thursday night.
What happened
MSU's second series of the season started Thursday against a ranked UMass-Lowell squad coming off a series split with Miami (Ohio). In a tense 3-3 game midway through the third period, MSU got a golden opportunity after forward Tanner Kelly was hooked on a breakaway, spurring the officials to call a penalty shot.
And Kelly took full advantage. The sophomore retrieved the puck from center ice and worked right to left, and as he approached the net, quickly shifted to his backhand and elevated his shot over the stick of Lowell goaltender Gustavs Davis Grigals to give MSU a 4-3 lead with eight minutes to play.