PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Sophomore
Kalle Andersson (Taby, Sweden) stopped all 26 shots he faced and junior
Jacob Laurin (Stockholm, Sweden) and sophomore
Anton Nasstrom (Ornskoldsvik, Sweden) each recorded a goal and an assist as Plymouth State University blanked Fitchburg State University, 3-0, in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) men's ice hockey action at Hanaway Rink on Tuesday afternoon.
Coming into the contest the two schools were tied atop the league standings with 18 points apiece, splitting a pair of earlier season matchups with each having won on their home ice. Laurin and Nasstrom each scored in the opening period and the Panthers added a power play goal in the second to skate to the win and take control of the game.
Plymouth State improves to 12-4-2 (9-1-2 MASCAC) to seize control of the league standings, while Fitchburg State slips to 11-5-0 and 9-3-0 in league play.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 3, Fitchburg State 0
- Plymouth State (12-4-2, 9-1-2 MASCAC)
- Fitchburg State (11-5-0, 9-3-0 MASCAC)
How it Happened:
- Plymouth State had an early chance when a shot from junior Myles Abbate (Norwell, Mass.) rang the pipe in the opening 20 seconds of action.
- The Panthers took the lead at 11:35 of the period when Nasstrom came away with the puck in the corner and whipped a shot in the low slot that was tipped in by Laurin.
- PSU doubled the margin at 18:39 when freshman Ethan Stuckless (Conception Bay South, Newfoundland) flipped a pass to Nasstrom, who was cutting from behind the goal line, and his shot deflected off the Fitchburg goaltender's glove and into the back of the net.
- The Falcons had a chance during a 3-on-2 rush on an abbreviated power play midway through the second, but Andersson sprawled out and made a glove save.
- Senior Mike McPherson (Somerville, Mass.) made it a 3-0 game with just under five minutes left in the middle stanza when he converted a perfect feed through the slot from sophomore Whim Stalberg (Gotenburg, Sweden) during a power play.
- The third period say up-and-down action highlighted by big hits, but neither team was able to light the lamp as PSU closed out the win.
By the Numbers:
- Plymouth State outshot the Falcons by a 45-26 margin and surrendered just four shots in the final period.
- Andersson picked up his first shutout of the season and second of his career.
- PSU finished 1-for-6 on the power play, while holding the Falcons scoreless during four man-advantage opportunities.
- The Panthers controlled the faceoff circle, winning 46-of-64. McPherson won 18-of-23, while sophomore Jeromey Rancourt (Lewiston, Maine) was a perfect 11-of-11.
Up Next:
- The Panthers continue a busy week of MASCAC action on Thursday (Feb. 3) when they host Westfield State University for a 6:00 p.m. contest.
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