Michigan State University Athletics
Spartans Host Ohio State in Weekend Set
1/22/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
| Games 21 & 22: Ohio State (7-11-2, 2-4 B1G) vs. Michigan State (7-11-2, 1-3-2-2 B1G) | |
| Dates | Times | Fri., Jan. 23 - 7 p.m. | Sat., Jan. 24 - 7 p.m. |
| Location | East Lansing, Mich. | Munn Ice Arena (6,470) |
| Tickets | MSUSpartans.com |
| TV | Fri. - Fox Sports Detroit | Sat. - BTN |
| Video Stream | BTN2Go |
| Gametracker | | |
| Radio | Spartan Sports Network (Listen Live) | Fri. - WJIM 1240-AM | Sat. - WFVN 730-AM |
| Radio (Mobile) | Broadcast available on Spartan Sports Network Mobile App: iPhone/iPad | Android |
| Promotions | Friday - 4 Seats, 4 Treats | Saturday - Family Four Pack |
| Game Notes | Ohio State | Michigan State |
| Social Media | @MSU_Hockey  | Facebook  |
On The Fly...
• Michigan State completes its season series with Ohio State by hosting the Buckeyes for a pair of games this weekend at Munn Ice Arena.
• The Spartans and Buckeyes split the two-game set in Columbus earlier this season (W, 3-0; L, 3-1) ... The two teams tied both games in East Lansing last season (Feb. 7-8), 2-2, with OSU winning both shootouts.
• The teams enter with identical 7-11-2 overall records while MSU is in fourth place in the Big Ten (1-3-2-2, 7 points) and OSU in fifth (2-4-0, 6 points).
• Friday will mark the 800th game (regular season or playoff) at Munn Ice Arena ... MSU has an all-time mark of 527-210-62 in the now 40-year old building.
• Michigan State has extinguished 15 consecutive opponent power plays over the last five games ... The Spartans lead the Big Ten in penalty kill percentage at .859, which ranks 18th nationally ... The 10 power play goals allowed by MSU are tied for the seventh fewest in the country.
• The Spartans' average of 15.35 blocked shots per game ranks ninth in the nation and third in the Big Ten ... MSU blocked 22 shots in the loss at Penn State, which tied a season high.
• Junior defenseman Travis Walsh leads MSU with 40 blocks (2.0 per game) ... Walsh tied for first in the Big Ten last season with 85 blocked shots.
• Junior goaltender Jake Hildebrand stopped 83 shots last weekend, including tying a career best with 48 in the 2-2 tie ... Hildebrand now has a career total of 2,309 stops - 98 shy of tying Norm Foster (1984-87) for ninth most in MSU history.
• With two goals and one assist last weekend, sophomore Villiam Haag leads MSU in Big Ten play with five points (3g, 2a) ... Brent Darnell also has three goals in conference play.
• Michigan State's .509 faceoff win percentage ranks 21st nationally and third in the Big Ten.
• Travis Walsh ranks fourth in the Big Ten among defensemen in points with 11 (2g, 9a).
• Senior forward Brent Darnell has seven points (3g, 4a) over the last six games ... Darnell's team season-long five-game point streak came to an end on Jan. 17.
• MSU has generated 30 or more shots on goal in seven of the last nine games.
• MSU ranks second in the Big Ten in goals against per game at 2.65.
• Under head coach Tom Anastos, the Spartans are 45-7-5 when scoring three or more goals.
• MSU leading scorer Michael Ferrantino (9-6-15) has a team-high five multi-point games.
About Ohio State
The Buckeyes are 2-2-1 in their last five games, including losses in the last two (at Penn State, 4-1; vs. Michigan, 10-6) ... Ohio State's top offensive producers all have 14 points: Anthony Greco (12g, 2a), Matt Johnson (10g, 4a), Tanner Fritz (6g, 8a) and Nick Schilkey (5g, 9a) ... Goaltenders Matt Tomkins (12 GP, .878 Sv %) and Christian Frey (10 GP, .908 Sv %) have been sharing time in net over the course of the season ... OSU is 5-3-2 on the road this season, compared to just 2-7 at home ... Ohio State's power play is operating at 16.0% efficiency, while the penalty kill is at 76.6%.
From the First Ohio State Series; Nov. 20-21
The Spartans topped the Buckeyes, 3-1, in the opener, getting a goal in all three periods ... Matt Berry had a goal and assist in the win, giving him 12 points (6g, 6a) in 13-career games against the Buckeyes ... Jake Hildebrand stopped 34 shots in the win ... MSU was shut out, 3-0, in game two as OSU goaltender Matt Tomkins stopped all 29 shots.
Last Weekend at Penn State...
MSU scored two goals in the first period in consecutive games for the first time since Nov. 1 (vs. Ferris State) and Nov. 7 (at UNH) ... Villiam Haag led MSU with a goal in both games and had an assist in game two ... The shootout win was MSU's second of the season ... Jake Hildebrand's 48 saves in the 2-2 deadlock tied his career high ... MSU killed all eight PSU power plays on the weekend.
Watch Tom
Penalty Kill Leads the Big Ten
After allowing five power-play goals in consecutive games against Minnesota, the Spartans have rebounded to kill 15 consecutive opponent power plays over a five-game stretch. Michigan State's .859 penalty kill percentage leads the Big Ten (.044 higher than second place Minnesota) and ranks 18th in the nation.
The Spartans' 15 consecutive penalty kills is the longest since Nov. 10 - Dec. 7, 2012, when MSU killed 21 straight over a span that included six games.
The 10 power play goals MSU has allowed this season are tied for the seventh fewest in the country.
Walsh Giving Offense a Lift
Junior defenseman Travis Walsh has stepped up his offensive production this season as his 11 points (2g, 9a) rank fourth among Big Ten defensemen and fourth most on the team. The 11 points equal his career best from 2012-13.
Walsh has three assists in the last six games and hasn't gone more than three consecutive games without a point this season.
Darnell Stays Hot
Brent Darnell enters this weekend with seven points (3g, 4a) in the last six games. He extended his team season-long point streak to five games with an assist at Penn State on Jan. 16. The five-game point streak matched his career long.
The senior from Canton has 50 points (22g, 28a) in a team high 124-career games.
In the Shootout
The Spartans are 2-0 in shootouts this season after earning their second extra point of the year last Friday at Penn State. Michigan State took part in a league-high seven shootouts last season, going 4-3, and the team's two this season also lead the Big Ten.
The Spartans won their first shootout of the season Dec. 6 vs. Minnesota, following a 3-3 tie. Matt DeBlouw won it for MSU in the sixth round, while Brent Darnel was the hero in the third round at Penn State on Jan. 16.
Jake Hildebrand has stopped eight of nine attempts this year and stopped 26 of 34 (.765) last season.
Haag Finds the Net Playing on the top line with Michael Ferrantino and Joe Cox, Villiam Haag ended an eight-game scoring drought with a goal in both games at Penn State last weekend. It was the third time as a Spartan that he has scored in consecutive games as eight of his 12-career goals have come in consecutive games.
Haag, who led all MSU rookies in goals with eight last season, has four goals and two assists so far in 2014-15.
Munn Unveils New HD Video and LED Ribbon Boards
As part of the ongoing upgrades and forthcoming renovation to Munn Ice Arena, a new high definition center-hung video board and LED ribbon boards were installed in the final weeks of 2014. Work on the new LED ribbon boards began in early December, while the center-hung video board was installed the week before Christmas.
Each high definition video board over center ice measures approximately 16 feet wide and 9 feet high. The LED fascia boards running along the north and south sides are 180 feet in length.
Additionally, four new scoreboards were installed in each corner of the rink above the concourse level.
Spartans in the NHL
A total of 13 Spartans have seen action in the NHL so far this season:
• John-Michael Liles (Carolina Hurricanes)
• Duncan Keith (Chicago Blackhawks)
• Corey Tropp (Columbus Blue Jackets)
• Shawn Horcoff (Dallas Stars)
• Justin Abdelkader (Detroit Red Wings)
• Drew Miller (Detroit Red Wings)
• Jeff Petry (Edmonton Oilers)
• Mike Weaver (Montreal Canadiens)
• Chris Mueller (New York Rangers)
• David Booth (Toronto Maple Leafs)
