Neil’s Notebook: Spartans’ Third Period Push Not Quite Enough

By Neil Koepke

MSUSpartans.com staff writer

EAST LANSING – Michigan State outshot Penn State 19-8 in the third period, had tons of quality scoring chances and had Penn State holding on in desperation late in the game.

But the Spartans’ huge edge in play in the final 20 minutes wasn’t enough to overcome the Nittany Lions’ solid play and the three goals they produced in the first two periods.

Penn State goalie Peyton Jones spoiled MSU’s hopes for a come-from-behind victory and a series sweep when he made a game-saving save on Spartan junior left wing Brennan Sanford with 2:16 left and the Nittany Lions survived with a 3-2 victory in front of a sellout crowd of 6,368 on Saturday at Munn Arena.

In…