Hockey Entertains Notre Dame Friday-Saturday at Munn Ice Arena
11/4/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Nov. 4, 2003
EAST LANSING, Mich. -
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THIS WEEK'S ACTION
Michigan State (5-3-0, 4-2-0 CCHA)vs. Notre Dame (5-2-0, 2-2-0 CCHA)
Friday-Saturday, Nov. 7-8, 7:05 p.m.Munn Ice Arena (6,470) * East Lansing, Mich.
MSU-ND Series InformationMichigan State leads 50-30-7Last 10 games: Michigan State leads 7-1-2In East Lansing: MSU leads 29-13-1In Notre Dame: MSU leads 19-17-6Neutral: MSU leads 2-0-0First Meeting: Jan. 18, 1922 - ND 3, MSU 1Last Meeting: Jan. 25, 2003 - MSU 3, ND 3 (OT)
Radio: WJIM 1240-AM (Scott Moore, Damon Whitten)Television: Comcast Cable -- East Lansing/Lansing area(Eric Peasley and Joe Campbell)
THIS WEEK'S ACTION
Michigan State (5-3 overall, 4-2 CCHA) entertains Notre Dame (5-2 overall, 2-2 CCHA) in a two-game set at Munn Ice Arena this weekend (Nov. 7-8). Both schools carry a four-game winning streak into Friday's contest. MSU is coming off back-to-back sweeps of Western Michigan and Ferris State, while ND has wins over Bowling Green, at Boston College and a two-game sweep of Nebraska-Omaha last weekend.
LAST WEEKEND RECAP
Friday, Oct. 31 - Michigan State 8, Ferris State 0
Five different Spartans scored goals, led by Tommy Goebel's first career hat trick, and Dominic Vicari stopped 21 shots en route to his first career whitewash as Michigan State picked up an 8-0 win over Ferris State on Friday night at Munn Ice Arena. In addition to Goebel, Steve Swistak scored a pair of goals and David Booth, Brock Radunske and Chris Snavely added single tallies. Ash Goldie finished with a career-best four assists, while Snavely posted three points (one goal, two assists).
Saturday, Nov. 1 - Michigan State 4, Ferris State 2
MSU scored three third-period goals, including the game winner by Adam Nightingale at the 2:49 mark, to secure a 4-2 win at Ferris State in Big Rapids on Saturday. Tommy Goebel gave MSU an early 1-0 lead at the 4:12 mark of the opening stanza, before back-to-back goals by FSU gave the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead after the first period. Goebel evened the game at two with his second tally of the game at the 1:41 mark of the third period, before Nightingale's eventual game-winning tally just 1:08 later. Mike Lalonde's empty-net goal sealed the win for the Spartans. Matt Miglaccio stopped 33-of-35 shots, including 14 in the middle stanza for his third win of the season. MSU's win in Big Rapids snapped Ferris State's eight-game home winning streak, which dated back to Jan. 18, 2003.
FOR STARTERS
* MSU has won four straight games heading into Friday's game against Notre Dame. During this stretch, the Spartans picked up 4-2 and 7-3 wins over Western Michigan Oct. 24-25 and 8-0 and 4-2 victories over Ferris State Oct. 31-Nov. 1. It is the team's longest winning streak since March 7-15, 2003 when State also won four straight.
* MSU's four-game winning streak is currently tied for the fifth longest in the nation. Maine paces the nation with a seven-game unbeaten streak.
* During MSU's four-game winning streak, the Spartans are averaging 5.8 goals-per-game, while allowing just 1.8 goals. MSU has scored at least four goals in all four wins, including a season-best eight vs. Ferris State Oct. 31.
* Freshman forward Tommy Goebel scored his first career hat trick in Friday's 8-0 win and followed up with a pair of goals on Saturday. He is tied for the team lead with seven goals.
* Junior forward Steve Swistak (Friday), freshman defenseman Chris Snavely (Friday) and junior forward Adam Nightingale (Saturday) each registered their first career goals over the weekend.
* State was picked to finish second in the CCHA Media Poll and third in the CCHA Coaches Poll, which was released at the annual CCHA Media Day at Joe Louis Arena (Sept. 16).
* MSU returns 17 players (12 forwards, three defensemen and two goaltenders) and welcomes nine newcomers (four forwards, four defenseman and one goaltender) to its rotation for 2003-04.
MICHIGAN STATE QUICK HITS
* MSU, under the direction of second-year head coach Rick Comley, carries a 5-3 overall and a 4-2 CCHA slate into this weekend's action. MSU has won four straight contests, including its second straight sweep over the weekend.
* Junior forward Jim Slater paces MSU in scoring with 15 points (seven goals, eight assists). Freshman forward Tommy Goebel (7-4--11) and junior forward Mike Lalonde (5-6--11) are tied for second with 11 points. Freshman defenseman A.J. Thelen (2-7--9) and junior forward Ash Goldie (2-5--7) round out the top-five scorers.
* In goal, junior Matt Migliaccio and freshman Dominic Vicari have split time in net. Vicari is 2-2 with a 2.76 goals-against average and an .866 saves percentage. Meanwhile, Migliaccio has posted a 3-1 mark, along with a 3.25 GAA and an .898 saves percentage.
* MSU leads the CCHA and ranks ninth in the nation in goals-per-game at 4.00.
* The Spartan power play is converting at an 26.1 percent rate (12-of-46), while State has killed off 25-of-34 (.735) of opponent power-play chances.
NOTRE DAME QUICK HITS
* Notre Dame carries a 5-2 overall and 2-2 CCHA mark into this weekend's action. The Fighting Irish swept Nebraska-Omaha 4-2 and 2-0 last weekend.
* Dave Poulin, a 1982 graduate of Notre Dame, is in his ninth season behind the ND bench, where he has compiled a 119-157-40 mark.
* Senior forwards Rob Globke (5-3--8) and Aaron Gill (2-6--8) are tied for the team lead in scoring with eight points. Junior forward Cory McLean (4-3--7) is third with seven points, while senior defenseman Brett Lebda (0-5--5) is fourth with five points.
* Freshman goaltender David Brown, who earned CCHA Rookie of the Week honors, is 3-2 with a 1.15 GAA and a .964 saves percentage. He enters this weekend with a school-record 186.15 scoreless minutes streak.
* The Fighting Irish are averaging 2.17 goals-per-game. ND leads the CCHA and ranks fourth in the nation in scoring defense at 1.71 goals-allowed-per-game.
* Notre Dame has scored just four power-play tallies in 34 attempts (.118), but have allowed just two power-play goals in 28 chances (.929). Notre Dame's penalty kill, which leads the CCHA, ranks ninth in the nation.
SERIES INFORMATION
Michigan State holds a 50-30-7 edge in the all-time series, which began with a 3-1 Notre Dame victory on Jan. 18, 1922. This weekend will mark the 88th and 89th meetings in the all-time series.
The Spartans are 7-1-2 in the last 10 meetings with the Irish, including a 1-0-1 mark in the 2002-03 season. In games played in East Lansing, MSU holds a 29-13-1 edge.
2003-03 SERIES RECAP
Friday, Jan. 24, 2003 - Michigan State 2, at Notre Dame 1
Despite being outshot 20-to-6 in the third period, Michigan State pulled out a hard-fought 2-1 victory at Notre Dame in game one. Mike Lalonde started the scoring for MSU with a power-play marker at the 9:04 mark of the second period, while Kevin Estrada added the eventual game winner at the 15:42 mark of the middle stanza. Both Spartan tallies were on the power play. ND's John Wroblewski cut the lead to one with a goal at the 8:33 mark of the third period. Spartan netminder Matt Migliaccio kicked out 40 Fighting Irish shots.
Saturday, Jan. 25 - Michigan State 3, at Notre Dame 3 (OT)
Michigan State and Notre Dame skated to a 3-3 overtime draw at the Joyce Center. MSU jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first period on a power-play goal by Brian Maloney. ND tied the game at one, before John-Michael Liles gave the Spartans a 2-1 advantage after two periods. Brock Radunske scored on a 3-on-1 breakaway to put the Spartans up by two, 3-1. However, the Fighting Irish would come back, registering back-to-back goals 18 seconds apart to send the game into overtime. Neither team could capitalize in the extra session as the game ended in a draw. Matt Migliaccio stopped 40 shots in the tie, while Morgan Cey finished with 34 saves.
GOEBEL SELECTED AS CCHA OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Freshman forward Tommy Goebel was selected as the CCHA Offensive Player of the Week after registering five goals in MSU's two-game sweep of Ferris State Oct. 31-Nov. 1. Goebel's selection marks the second straight week that an MSU player has earned the honor, joining Jim Slater who was selected last week (Oct. 27).
The Parma, Ohio, native registered his first career hat trick in MSU's 8-0 shutout against Ferris State. Goebel scored MSU's first two goals in a span of 3:21, including one just 33 seconds into the contest to give State the early lead. He closed out his night with MSU's fifth goal en route to No. 1 star honors.
On Saturday, he earned No. 1 star of the game honors after tallying a pair of goals in a 4-2 victory. His first marker at the 4:12 mark gave MSU the early 1-0 lead, while his second tally tied the game at two, just 1:41 into the third period.
INSIDE GOEBEL'S NUMBERS
Over the course of the last four contests, Goebel has registered nine points (six goals, three assists). He is tied with Jim Slater (2-7--9) for the team lead with nine points in that same time span.
For the season, Goebel has played in all nine games, posting 7-4--11 totals. His seven goals tie him for the team lead with Jim Slater and rank tied for first in the CCHA. Meanwhile, he is fifth in the nation in points-per-game among rookies at 1.38. Overall, Goebel's 11 total points leads all rookies.
THE NUMBERS GAME
Tommy Goebel, Mike Lalonde and Jim Slater have been on fire over the course of the last four games. During this stretch, the trio have combined for 12 of MSU's 23 goals or 52 percent of the team's goal production. In addition, they have combined for 26 of MSU's 61 points or 42.7 percent of the team's total offensive production.
SHUTTING OUT THE OPPONENT
Freshman netminder Dominic Vicari earned his first career shutout and No. 2 star of the game honors in Friday's 8-0 win over Ferris State. The Clinton Township, Mich., native stopped all 21 shots including nine in the second period in earning his second victory of the year.
In his last two starts (Oct. 25 at. WMU and Oct. 31 vs. FSU), Vicari has posted a 2-0 record, along with a 1.50 GAA and a .919 saves percentage. For the season, he has appeared in four games with a 2-2 record, a 2.76 GAA and an .866 saves percentage.
A NIGHT OF FIRSTS
A pair of Spartans - Steve Swistak and Chris Snavely - registered their first career goals on Friday, while Adam Nightingale scored his first as a Spartan on Saturday. Swistak tallied a pair of goals in the win, including his first career marker at the 3:50 mark of the opening period. The West Bloomfield, Mich., native set up Adam Nightingale's game winner on Saturday for a three-point weekend. Swistak enters this weekend with a career-best two-game point streak (2-1--3).
Meanwhile, Snavely, who missed six games (Oct. 11-25) with a shoulder injury, scored his first career tally at the 16:16 mark of the third period on Friday. Snavely finished the night with a career-best three points (one goal, two assists). The Lancaster, Pa., native has appeared in three games with 1-3--4 totals.
Adam Nightingale tallied his first career goal as a Spartan at the 2:49 mark of the third period. The goal also turned out to be the game winner. For the season, Nightingale has appeared in five games with one goal.
THE HELPING HAND
Junior forward Ash Goldie set a new personal best with four assists in the 8-0 win. He drew an assist on MSU's second, third, fourth and seventh goals. Goldie, who had entered the game with three points (two goals, one assist), doubled his point total on the season as he now ranks fifth on the team in scoring with 2-5--7 totals.
SPARTAN NOTEBOOK
* MSU's eight goals Friday marked the team's best offensive showing of the season. State's previous top offensive outburst was seven goals at Western Michigan (Oct. 25).
* Junior forward Adam Nightingale (concussion - three games), freshman defenseman Chris Snavely (shoulder - five games) and senior defenseman Joe Markusen (sore ribs - one game) returned to the line-up on Friday vs. Ferris State after missing previous action due to injury.
* The Spartan power play is second in the CCHA and eighth in the nation with a 26.1 percent success rate (12-of-46).
* The Spartans have scored 14 third-period goals this season, including three in each game of the WMU series and four vs. Ferris State Oct. 31 and three at Ferris State Nov. 1.
* MSU is 5-0 when scoring the first goal of the third period.
* Sophomore forward David Booth is expected to miss three-to-four weeks with a left knee injury.
SPARTAN PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Freshman forward Tommy Goebel was selected as the Spartan Player of the Week following MSU's two-game sweep of Ferris State. Goebel registered his first career hat trick in Friday's 8-0 blanking, and tallied a pair in Saturday's 4-2 victory.
The Spartan coaching staff will select a Spartan Player of the Week each Monday. Past Spartans of the Week
WHO'S HOT?
* Freshman forward Tommy Goebel (6-3--9) and junior forward Jim Slater (2-7--9) with nine points each in the past four games.
* Junior forward Mike Lalonde with 4-4--8 totals in the last four games.
* Freshman defenseman A.J. Thelen with 1-7--8 totals in the last five games.
* Junior forward Brock Radunske with 2-2--4 totals in the last five games.
* Junior forward Ash Goldie with 2-5--7 totals in the last four games.
* Junior forward Steve Swistak with 2-1--3 totals in the last two games.
* Freshman defenseman Chris Snavely with 1-3--4 totals in the last two games.
* Freshman netminder Dominic Vicari has posted a 2-0 record, along with a 1.50 GAA and a .919 saves percentage in his last two starts.
* Junior netminder Matt Migliaccio also is 2-0, along with a 2.00 GAA and a .937 saves percentage in his last two starts.
IT'S A TALE OF TWO TEAMS
It has been a tale of two teams this season for Michigan State. For example:
* State has lit the lamp for 28 goals in its five victories (5.6 gpg) while giving up only nine markers (3.0 gpg). MSU has allowed three goals or fewer in three of the five wins.
* In MSU's three losses, the Spartans have scored just four goals (1.3 gpg) while giving up 13 markers (4.3 gpg). MSU has registered two goals or fewer in two of the three losses, including one shutout.
* In MSU's five wins, the Spartans are averaging 31.4 shots per game, while allowing just 26.8 shots. On the other hand, MSU has averaged just 26.0 shots per game, while allowing 25.0 shots in its three losses.
* MSU is connecting at a 31.2 percent clip (10-of-32) on the power play when it wins and 14.3 percent (2-of-14) when it loses. However, the big difference is on the penalty kill. The Spartans are killing off 82.6 percent (19-of-23) of opponent power plays when they win, but just 54.5 percent (6-of-11) of the attempts when they lose.
HOCKEY TICKET UPDATE
Single-game bench seats also are available for the remaining games, except the two Michigan contests (Dec. 6 and March 5). Tickets are $20 for the public and $8 for MSU students (one per ID) and are available through the Athletics Ticket Office located in Jenison Field House, by phone at (517) 355-1610 or online at www.msuspartans.com.
KEEP THE OFFENSE ROLLING
Michigan State has lit the lamp for 23 goals over the last four contests. MSU tallied 11 goals in its two-game sweep of Western Michigan and posted a season-best eight in Friday's 8-0 blanking of Ferris State. The Spartans currently lead the CCHA and are ninth in the nation in goals-per-game at 4.00.
Michigan State finished fifth in the nation and second in the CCHA with a 3.95 goals-per-game average in 2002-03. It was MSU's best offensive showing since the Spartans averaged 4.58 goals per game in 1994-95 - a span of eight seasons.
INSIDE SLATER'S NUMBERS
For the season, Slater paces MSU in scoring with 15 points on seven goals and eight assists. He leads the CCHA overall scoring race and ranks sixth in the nation in points-per-game (1.88). Overall, his 15 points ties him with Michigan Tech's Chris Conner (11-4--15) for the national lead in total points.
MSU HEAD COACH Rick Comley
Entering his second season behind the Michigan State bench is Rick Comley. Comley, who was named head coach on March 25, 2002, became just the fifth head coach in MSU hockey history.
He carries a 625-492-73 (.556) career record in 30 seasons and ranks seventh all-time on the NCAA hockey coaches wins list. In addition, his 625 career victories ranks third among active NCAA coaches, behind Boston University's Jack Parker (682 wins) and Boston College's Jerry York (669 wins).
In his first season at MSU, he led the Spartans to a 23-14-2 (.615) overall mark. He became one of just seven coaches to reach the 600-win plateau, a feat he accomplished on Oct. 24, 2002, when the Spartans beat Lake Superior State, 7-0. In addition, he coached a pair of All-Americans in senior defensemen John-Michael Liles and Brad Fast. Liles led the team in scoring en route to earning the CCHA Best Offensive Defenseman award, while Fast finished second in scoring and was the recipient of the CCHA's Best Defensive Defenseman award.
Comley brings 30 years of head coaching experience and a proven record of success at the conference and national levels. During his career, he's coached eight Hobey Baker Memorial Award finalists, including 2003 finalist John-Michael Liles; 12 All-Americans; four league players of the year; 23 first-team all-league selections, including 2003 honorees Liles, Brad Fast and Jim Slater; and 80 academic all-league selections.
POWER PLAY KEY TO SUCCESS
Michigan State's power play ranks second in the CCHA and eighth in the nation at 26.1 percent (12-of-46).
One of the keys to Michigan State's success over the past few seasons has been the Spartans' power play. MSU led the CCHA and ranked third in the nation with the man advantage at 27.5 percent (50-of-182) in 2002-03. In conference games only, State paced the league with the man advantage at 29.7 percent (38-of-128). MSU registered at least one power play marker in 30 of the team's 39 games last year.
To further illustrate MSU's success, take note: MSU led the CCHA and finished ninth in the nation on the power play in 2001-02 at 22.5 percent (45-of-200). The Spartans also led the CCHA and ranked seventh in the nation at 22.7 percent (52-of-229) in 2000-01, while in 1999-2000, State once again led the CCHA and ranked sixth in the nation at 22.9 percent (56-of-245).
SPARTANS IN THE NATIONAL POLLS
The Michigan State hockey team was not ranked in either the Nov. 3 edition of the USA Today/American Hockey Magazine or the USCHO.com polls. However, State did receive votes in both polls.
Maine is the No. 1 team in both polls. In the USA Today/American Hockey Magazine poll, North Dakota is No. 2 followed by New Hampshire, Michigan and Boston College. Meanwhile in the USCHO.com poll, North Dakota, New Hampshire, Michigan and Boston College round out the top five schools.
THE Rick Comley RADIO SHOW
The Rick Comley Radio Show will run throughout the season, on Wednesday's, at 6 p.m., on WVFN-AM 730. The hour-long show originates from Reno's East Sports Bar in East Lansing. Jerry Marshall serves as the host of the program.
UP NEXT
Michigan State hits the road for a two-game set at Miami (Ohio) Nov. 14-15. Face-off both nights in Oxford, Ohio, is set for 7:35 p.m.
