Spartans win college hockey championship

ST. LOUIS – Justin Abdelkader snapped a tie with 18.9 seconds to go, seconds after ringing a shot off the post in Michigan State’s 3-1 victory over Boston College in the NCAA hockey championship game Saturday.

Chris Mueller added an empty-net goal with 1.2 seconds left to clinch it for the Spartans (26-13-3), a lightly regarded No. 3 seed in the Midwest Regional when the tournament began. Michigan State, playing in front of a record crowd of 19,402, won its third championship and first since 1986.

Tim Kennedy tied it midway through the third period, and set up the go-ahead goal from behind the net. Abdelkader, the MVP of the finals, beat Cory Schneider for his 15th goal and first in nine games.

Brian Boyle scored in the second period for Boston College (29-11-2), which had won 13 in a row before the final.