Michigan State University Athletics
Spartans and Wolverines Square Off at The Joe
1/29/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
| Game 23: No. 13 Michigan (15-7, 7-1 B1G) vs. Michigan State (9-11-2, 3-3-2-2 B1G) | |
| Date | Time | Fri., Jan. 30 - 7:30 p.m. |
| Location | Detroit, Mich. | Joe Louis Arena (20,066) |
| Tickets | TicketMaster.com |
| TV | Fox Sports Detroit |
| Video Stream | BTN2Go |
| Live Stats | |
| Radio | Spartan Sports Network (Listen Live) | WJIM 1240-AM |
| Radio (Mobile) | Broadcast available on Spartan Sports Network Mobile App: iPhone/iPad | Android |
| Game Notes | Michigan | Michigan State |
| Social Media | @MSU_Hockey  | Facebook  |
On The Fly...
• Friday's game will be the second meeting of 2014-15 and the first of four conference games between the teams this season ... Michigan is 7-1 in the Big Ten and in first place with 21 points, while the Spartans are third with 13 points and a 3-3-2-2 mark in league play ... Michigan defeated MSU, 2-1, in the GLI title game on Dec. 29.
• Michigan State has an all-time record of 86-59-7 at Joe Louis Arena, including an 18-28-5 mark vs. Michigan ... Friday will be the 301st all-time meeting between MSU and U-M, making it the most-played rivalry in all of college hockey.
• The Spartans are coming off a two-game sweep of Ohio State, defeating the Buckeyes, 4-1 and 2-0, in their only series of the month at Munn Ice Arena.
• MSU is 4-2-2 - with two shootout wins - over its last eight games (since Dec. 6) ... The Spartans are averaging 33.4 shots on goal and have converted on 25% of their power-play opportunities over the span, both of which are above their season averages ... Over the eight-game stretch since Dec. 6, MSU has surrendered an average of 2.12 goals-per game, which ranks 10th in the nation over the span.
• Goaltender Jake Hildebrand was named the Big Ten First Star of the week after turning away 55 of the 56 shots he faced in the two games against the Buckeyes ... Hildebrand's shutout on Jan. 24 was his second of the season and sixth of his career, tying him for sixth place on MSU's all-time shutout list.
• Jake Hildebrand's 1317:55 minutes played this season are the most of any goalie in the Big Ten and the 11th most of any goaltender in the nation ... His 2.41 GAA and .918 save percentage both lead the Big Ten.
• Hildebrand now has a career total of 2,364 saves - 43 shy of tying Norm Foster (1984-87) for ninth most in MSU history.
• Linemates Brent Darnell (2g, 2a), Ryan Keller (2g) and Thomas Ebbing (1a) combined for seven points in the series against Ohio State ... One of the three players has scored the game-winning goal in each of the last four MSU wins.
• Darnell has been the Spartans' hottest offensive threat of late, picking up at least a point in seven of the last eight games ... The senior has 11 points (5g, 6a) over the eight-game span, including two game-winning goals ... Darnell is MSU's leader in Big Ten games in goals (5) and points (8) ... Overall, he is third in goals (6) and fourth in points (13).
• MSU has extinguished 21 consecutive opponent power plays over a span of seven complete games.
• The Spartans' .870 penalty kill percentage leads the Big Ten and is 11th best nationally ... The 10 power play goals allowed by MSU are the sixth fewest in the country.
• The Spartans are 8-1-2 when scoring first and 9-0-2 when leading after two periods.
• Under head coach Tom Anastos, the Spartans are now 46-7-5 when scoring three or more goals.
• MSU has a power play goal in each of the last three games (3-for-11).
• MSU leads the league in goals against per game at 2.45, which ranks 25th nationally.
• The Spartans rank fifth in the nation and second in the Big Ten in blocked shots per game at 15.86.
From the Ohio State Series
MSU got its first series sweep since defeating Penn State (3-0, 3-2) Jan. 17-18, 2014 at Munn ... The Spartans held the Buckeyes to just one goal on 56 shots ... Brent Darnell led MSU with four points (2g, 2a), while Matt Berry (1g, 2a) and Ryan Keller (2g) also chipped in ... Darnell's three points in the 4-1 win tied a career high ... The Spartans extinguished all six OSU power plays while going 2-for-6 on the man advantage, getting a power goal in both games ... The Spartans blocked a season-high 27 shots in the 4-1 win.
Penalty Kill Leads the Big Ten
After allowing five power-play goals in consecutive games against Minnesota, the Spartans have rebounded to kill 21 consecutive opponent power plays over a seven-game stretch. The Spartans are the only team in the nation to have not allowed a power play goal since Dec. 14.
Michigan State's .870 penalty kill percentage leads the Big Ten (.057 higher than second place Minnesota) and ranks 11th in the nation. The 10 power play goals MSU has allowed this season are the sixth fewest in the country.
The Spartans' 21 consecutive penalty kills is their longest since Nov. 10 - Dec. 7, 2012, when they also killed 21 straight over a six-game span.
Spartans Go 4-2-2 Over Their Last Eight
• The Spartans are 4-2-2 since a 3-3 tie and shootout win over Minnesota on Dec. 6
• Brent Darnell leads MSU with 11 points (5g, 6a) while five other players have five points, led by Ryan Keller (4g, 1a)
• Jake Hildebrand has two shutouts, a 2.08 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage
• MSU is 7-for-28 on the power play and has extinguished 21-of-23 opponent opportunities
• The Spartans have allowed two or fewer goals in six of the eight games ... The 2.12 goals-against per game is 10th nationally over the stretch
Darnell, Ebbing and Keller Fitting Well
Brent Darnell, Thomas Ebbing and Ryan Keller have played together for the last eight games and have been one of the Spartans' most consistent and dangerous lines, combining for 11 of the Spartans' 22 goals over the stretch. In fact, one of the three players has scored the game-winning goal in each of the Spartans' last four wins. Ebbing scored the game-winner in the 6-4 win over Clarkson (Dec. 14), while Darnell followed with the clincher in each of the next two victories - vs. Ferris State (Dec. 28) and Ohio State (Jan. 23). Keller got his first game-winning goal of the season in the 2-0 win over the Buckeyes (Jan. 24).
Additionally, Darnell had the shootout-winner at Penn State (Jan. 16) to give MSU the extra Big Ten point.
Darnell's Hot Streak Continues
Senior Brent Darnell is on the best streak of his career as he has at least a point in seven of the last eight games, producing five goals and six assists over the span. Darnell started a five-game point streak (tying a career best) with a two-goal effort in a 3-3 tie and shootout win vs. Minnesota. He was named the Big Ten Third Star of the Week after scoring the game-winning goal vs. Ferris State and then adding an assist the following night. Against Ohio State last weekend, he tied a career high with three points (1g, 2a) in the 4-1 win and added another goal in the 2-0 win.
Darnell is MSU's leader in Big Ten games in goals (5) and points (8). Overall, he's third on the team in goals (6) and fourth in points (13).
The senior from Canton has 54 points (24g, 30a) in a team high 126-career games.
Walsh Giving Offense a Lift
Junior defenseman Travis Walsh has stepped up his offensive production this season as his 12 points (2g, 10a) are a career high and rank fourth among Big Ten defensemen.
Walsh has two assists in the last three games and hasn't gone more than three consecutive games without a point this season.
Holland Likes The Joe
In three-career games at Joe Louis Arena, sophomore defenseman Rhett Holland has three points. Holland had an assist in last year's game vs. the Wolverines, while he was named to this year's GLI All-Tournament team with an assist in the 2-0 win over Ferris State and his first-career goal in the title game against Michigan.
Sacrificing The Body
For the second consecutive season, Michigan State is among the nation's top teams in shot blocking. Currently the Spartans rank fifth nationally and second in the league behind Ohio State in blocked shots per game at 15.86. Defensive partners Travis Walsh and Josh Jacobs lead MSU with 44 blocks each and their 2.00 per game average is tied for the 23rd in the country.
MSU led the nation in blocked shots per game with an average of 17.67 and led all Big Ten teams in total blocked shots with 636, ranking fifth nationally. Walsh tied for first in the Big Ten and ninth in the nation in blocks last season with 85.
Hildebrand in the Record Books
Jake Hildebrand's second shutout of the season on Jan. 24 was the sixth of his career, tying him with Matt Migliaccio (2001-05), Ron Scott (1980-83) and Joe Selinger (1956-59) for sixth place on the Spartans' all-time shutout list. His next shutout will tie him with Bob Essensa (1983-87).
Hildebrand's 2,364-career saves are the 10th most in MSU history; he is now 43 stops away from tying Norm Foster (1984-87) for ninth place.
Hildebrand has yielded two or fewer goals in 11 of 22 games this season, including five of the last six.
Three the Magic Number
Under head coach Tom Anastos, the Spartans are 46-7-5 (.836) when scoring three or more goals, including a 7-1-1 mark this season.
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)
