Neil's Notebook: Spartans Excited For B1G Tournament
3/19/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
By Neil Koepke
MSUSpartans.com staff writer
DETROIT - For more than a month, Michigan State has been playing with a sense of urgency and desperation.
But there was always room for errors and missteps.
No longer are errors and missteps -- losses -- acceptable.
It's win, celebrate and advance. Or lose, feel pain and the season's over.
With confidence boosted by a regular-season ending victory, a second-place finish and a first-round bye, the Spartans skate into the Big Ten Tournament in search of a playoff championship and the conference's automatic bid into the 16-team NCAA Tournament.
"It's going to be intense. Everyone is fighting to keep their season alive so we're going to get the best from everyone,'' MSU junior center and captain Mike Ferrantino said.
"This should be a lot of fun. We've shown that we can beat anybody in the league on a given night. But everyone has beaten us.''
The Spartans' road to the coveted spot in the NCAA Tournament begins with a semifinal challenge at 8 p.m. Friday at Joe Louis Arena against the winner of Thursday's 8 p.m. quarterfinal matchup between third-place Michigan and sixth-place Wisconsin.
Since the Badgers (4-25-5 overall, 2-15-3-2 Big Ten) have struggled to score and win games all year and went 0-6-1 to finish the regular season, with only five goals scored and were shut out five times during that stretch, most everyone expects the Wolverines to cruise into semifinals and another showdown against the Spartans.
It would be the sixth time that MSU (17-15-2, 11-7-2-2) and Michigan (20-14-0, 12-8-0) have met this season and third at Joe Louis Arena. The Wolverines lead the season series 3-2 but it's even at 2-2 in conference play.
Last weekend, the two teams split a crucial series to end the Big Ten regular season with the road teams winning both games.
Michigan scored with five minutes left to break a 3-3 deadlock last Friday and set up a 5-3 victory at Munn Arena. MSU returned the favor on Saturday as goalie Jake Hildebrand was outstanding in a 37-save performance that gave the Spartans a 2-1 victory at Yost Arena and lifted Michigan State over U-M and into second place.
So, is playing Michigan three times in a row and six times in one season too much?
"No, it's always a lot of fun,'' Ferrantino said. `"No matter who we play, Wisconsin or Michigan, it's a do-or-die situation and we'll be ready to go.''
"I would really love to even up the record at 3-3,'' said sophomore forward Joe Cox, who grew up in Chelsea, just west of Ann Arbor. "I really believe in these guys and I love the way our team has shaped out. I believe we can take this whole (tournament) home.
"With Michigan playing Wisconsin, anybody can beat anybody else on a given night so we'll prepare for both teams.''
In Thursday's first semifinal, fourth-place Penn State (18-14-4, 10-9-1-1) meets fifth-place Ohio State at 4:30 p.m. The winner advances to the semifinals against first-place Minnesota (21-12-3, 12-5-3-0) at 4:30 p.m. on Friday.
Saturday's Big Ten Championship game is at 8 p.m.
Only Minnesota is in position to not win the tournament title and still earn an at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament. But if the Gophers lose in the finals, they would have to hope that there are no upsets in any of the other five conference tournaments being played this weekend.
There are a few scenarios in which the Big Ten could get two teams in the NCAA Tournament but only if the Gophers don't win the conference title and teams like Vermont, UMass-Lowell, Colgate and Clarkson don't win their respective tournaments.
"You'll have six urgent, desperate teams. Everyone will play with desperation and urgency because almost everyone has to win the tournament to get in the NCAAs,'' MSU coach Tom Anastos said. "The biggest beneficiaries are the fans of Big Ten hockey.
"Only Minnesota is on the bubble (in the PairWise Rankings) and even if they don't win, they could still get in. But I think Minnesota will play with desperation, too, because they don't know what will happen (in other leagues).''
In 20 Big Ten regular season games, Michigan State went 3-1 against Ohio State, 3-1 against Wisconsin, 2-1-1 vs. Penn State, 2-2 against Michigan and 1-2-1 vs. Minnesota.
Michigan went 4-0 against Wisconsin, 3-1 vs. Ohio State, 2-2 against MSU, 2-2 against Minnesota and 1-3 vs. Penn State.
If the Spartans end up playing Michigan, their emphasis will be on protecting the area in front of the net - the "house," as Anastos and his players call it.
"They love to control the puck behind the net and throw it out front, where they'll have one or two guys sitting there,'' Cox said. "It's really imperative, especially for us wingers, to come back to the house and pick up guys setting up in there.
"That's how they scored three of their goals here last Friday.''
Michigan's first, third and fourth goals came from the slot. Dexter Dancs scored on a one-timer, after a perfect pass from behind the net, early in the first period. Dylan Larkin, the Big Ten's freshman of the year and a first-team all-conference selection, gave U-M a 3-2 lead from the slot late in the second period.
And the Wolverines' game-winner was also scored from a pass from behind the net - to an onrushing Travis Lynch, who one-timed it into the left corner for a 4-3 lead with 5:03 left.
"By now we know just about everything about them and they know us,'' Ferrantino said. "They like to set up behind the net and they burned us a bunch of times on Friday. We have to clean up our own end.
"We still gave them too much time on Saturday. We didn't defend that well. We were able to scramble and keep the puck out of our net, but they had quite a few grade A chances.''
John Draeger and Ron Boyd are considered MSU's shutdown defensemen. They're on the ice against the other team's top forward line and in key defensive situations, so they'll see plenty of Michigan's top unit of center Larkin, right wing Zach Hyman and left wing Justin Selman.
Hyman (19 goals, 30 assists, 49 points) and Larkin (14-29-42) are No. 1 and 2, respectively, in Big Ten overall scoring.
"We just go out against our opponent's top line and play simple hockey and try to be physical,'' Draeger said. "Coach has given us the role of being a shutdown unit so we're playing 20-25 minute a game.
"Michigan likes to use the back of the net to make plays so you have to be aware where everyone is and have good sticks in defending out front. They do a lot of switching, rotating players to different spots so we have to have good communication in our zone.
"We have to be in good position, solid with our defensive zone coverage and communicate, and that should help us transition to offense.''
The Wolverines have the most productive offense in the Big Ten and nation with an average of 3.88 goals per game. The Spartans have the best defense in the Big Ten, averaging 2.24 goals against, ranking No. 12 in the country.
In the five games played between the two teams - 2-1 and 2-1 wins for MSU and 2-1, 4-1 and 5-3 victories for U-M - the Spartans have scored nine goals and allowed 13, although two of Michigan's goals have been empty-netters.
In the assessing last Saturday's 2-1 victory, Anastos raved about Hildebrand's play, was impressed by his team's resiliency to bounce back from Friday's loss at home, but still thought his team gave up too many scoring chances.
"In the course of the season, I've sat here and said that in a certain game, we won every major statistical category we track except the important one - goals against and goals for in the game,'' he said. "In Saturday's game at Michigan, it was reversed. We won the most important category - goals - and we didn't in the others.
"We didn't possess the puck enough. We didn't do a good job with that. Our zone denial wasn't too bad but we gave up too many second and third chances.
"We have to play a better overall game, regardless of who we play. We have to be better.''
RED-HOT GOALTENDER: After watching goalie Jake Hildebrand play against Penn State, Ohio State, Minnesota and Michigan the second half of the season, it's not surprising the 5-foot-10, 187-pound junior from Butler, Pa., was named Big Ten Player of the Year, as well as earning the award as Goaltender of the Year and being selected to the Big Ten All-Conference First Team.
Hildebrand was the big reason the Spartans were in position to win the regular-season title going into the last weekend of the season and were able to finish in second, two points behind first-place Minnesota and one point ahead of third-place Michigan.
Hildebrand, 21, had five shutouts in MSU's last 13 Big Ten games and finished conference play with the best goals against average and saves percentage -- 1.94 GAA and .940.
In overall games, Hildebrand played in all of MSU's 34 contests and was No. 1 in goals-against average (2.12) and saves percentage (.930).
Since Jan. 1, Hildebrand leads the nation in save percentage (.950), ranks sixth in goals-against average (1.55) and has five shutouts, second most in the country.
Hildebrand arguably delivered his best game ever last Saturday in stealing a game away from Michigan with a brilliant performance in the most important game of the season for each team.
Hildebrand made point-blank pad saves, body saves, glove saves, gobbled up loose pucks in the crease and controlled rebounds. He did everything but drive the Zamboni and score the Spartans' goals.
If he continues to "stay in the zone" and "stand on his head," the Spartans have a good chance do what most observers thought was impossible two months into the season - make the NCAA Tournament.
Anastos was asked earlier this week what it means for a team to be riding a hot goaltender.
"It means a ton. Because in our sport, really only one player can win or lose a game for you, or make as much impact as anybody else,'' he said. "Riding a hot goalie is simply having a guy who is playing with great confidence and tracking the puck very well, and it's not just about making saves. It's steering rebounds, preventing rebounds, it's inspiring your team to play at a high level and it's making the big save when you need the big save.
"I didn't think Hildy was at the top of his game on Friday but on Saturday he was outstanding.''
As a sophomore, Hildebrand had a 2.44 GAA and a .923 saves percentage in 32 games. In his freshman year, he played in 29 games and had a 2.35 GAA and a .929 saves percentage.
"When we recruited him, I remember him sitting in my office and the one question he had for me, because we had a returning player (Will Yanakeff), was would he get an opportunity to play. We said absolutely,'' Anastos said.
"He did and when he got the opportunity, he took advantage of it. He showed a level of poise and confidence and that allowed him to have success and build confidence with his teammate and the coaching staff. That's continued to track upwardly.
"He's playing at the top of his game but I think he'll continue to get better.''
THE HIGH-FIVE THAT WASN'T: With a little more than six minutes to go in last Saturday's thriller at Michigan, Hildebrand made what some are calling the "save of the season" when he robbed U-M's Tyler Motte with a dazzling glove save to stop a puck headed into the right corner of the net.
After the play, it appeared that Motte skated into the slot area and brushed the glove of Hildebrand. The Fox Sports Detroit announcers, and others watching on TV, thought Motte gave Hildebrand a high-five, respectfully acknowledging the clutch save by the Spartans goaltender.
Upon further review, that wasn't the case.
Hildebrand said Motte immediately suggested to the officials that Hildebrand's catching glove might have been behind the goal line when he caught the puck. As he skated by the net, Hildebrand said Motte raised his glove again while heading toward a referee, hoping that the save would be reviewed.
Hildebrand said he was confused when someone asked him about it after the game, not knowing what it might have looked like on TV.
WALSH IS ALSO AN ALL-STAR: In addition to Hildebrand's Big Ten First Team All-Conference selection, junior defenseman Travis Walsh was voted by coaches and media to the all-conference second team.
Walsh, a 5-foot-11, 181-pound left-hand shot d-man from Haslett, suffered a fracture jaw on Feb. 26 at Minnesota and is expected to be out for the season.
"He's been unbelievable this season. He logged a lot of important minutes for us,'' Hildebrand said. "He was on our first power play, our first penalty kill and played a lot of regular shifts and he was up there among the leaders in blocked shots.''
Despite missing the last five games, Walsh is still MSU's top-scoring defenseman with two goals and 12 assists for 14 points, which ranks seventh in team scoring.
"Walshie has been one of the most underrated players in the league the last couple years so it's good to see him get recognized,'' Ferrantino said. "He's plays a lot of minute. He's a warrior back there.''
Minnesota's Mike Reilly and Michigan's Zach Werenski were selected to the first team while Walsh and Mike Downing of Michigan made the second team. Walsh beat out a few top-end defensemen, including junior Brady Skjei of Minnesota. Skjei is on track to be in the NHL in a year or two.
"He's really grown as a player over the last couple years and he takes pride in his style of game, which he plays with a lot of intelligence,'' MSU coach Tom Anastos said. "He's a puck-mover and a guy who logs a lot of minutes.
"He's playing against the top lines of our opponents. Whether it's on the power play, penalty kill, the last minute of a period and key moments when there's a faceoff in the defensive zone, he's out there.
"With him being out, that's been a big loss for us. But he still plays an important role on this team from a leadership perspective.
"We want him around his teammates, to be around for practice and when we're playing. He has the experience and respect from his peers and we still need to bring that presence to our team.''
JACOBS ON ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM: Defenseman Josh Jacobs was selected to the Big Ten All-Freshman team, along with defenseman Zach Werenski and forward Dylan Larkin of Michigan, and forwards Scott Conway of Penn State and Ohio State's Matthew Weiss. Conway is the cousin of former Spartan forward Brett Perlini.
Jacobs, 19, who's played in 34 games and has eight assists, spent most of the season paired with Travis Walsh. Now, he's teamed with Rhett Holland.
"He's logging a lot of ice time and while he hasn't put up (offensive) numbers, he does a lot of little things that have helped us,'' Anastos said. "He gets a lot of critical time against our opponents' top forwards. He's out for critical faceoffs, for the last minute of periods and he kills penalties and plays on the power play
"Not only is he handling it well, he embraces it. He has a big work capacity. His game will evolve to a high level.''
SPARTAN POTPOURRI: Michael Ferrantino has taken over the team's goal-scoring lead with 12, one more than a trio of players with 11 - Matt Berry, Mackenzie MacEachern and Ryan Keller. Berry still leads in points with 28, with 11 goals and 17 assists. MacEachern is second with 25 points (11-14) and Ferrantino is third with 23 (12-11).
Hildebrand's is the eighth Spartan to be a conference named player of the year and first since Torey Krug was the CCHA Player of the Year in the CCHA. Ryan Miller, in 2001, was the last MSU goaltender to earn the award. . . The Spartans closed the season by going 4-1 and 7-3 in their last 10 games. . . . MSU is 16-2-2 when scoring first and 15-0-2 when leading after two periods. . . . The Spartans lead the Big Ten and rank No. 2 in the nation in blocked shots with an average of 18.5 per game. They blocked 30 shots in last Saturday's 2-1 win at Michigan.
TOURNAMENT TIME: Five other conferences are holding their final four tournaments this weekend, leading up to Sunday's NCAA Selection Show, revealing the 16-team tourney field.
Each of the six conferences receives an automatic berth and it goes to the playoff champion. The field also includes 10 at-large selections based on the PairWise Rankings, a formula which attempts to mimic the method used by the NCAA Selection Committee to determine participants and seeding for the tournament. The PWR compares every team against all other teams by these criteria: record against common opponents, head-to-head competition and the RPI (ratings percentage index).
Here are each conference's tournament site and matchups on Friday, with finals set for Saturday:
National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC): Target Center, Minneapolis; No. 1 North Dakota vs. No. 4 St. Cloud State; No. 2 Miami vs. No. 3 Denver.
Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA): Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, Minn.; No. 1 Minnesota State vs. No. 4 Ferris State; No. 2 Michigan Tech vs. No. 3 Bowling Green.
Hockey East (HEA): TD Garden, Boston; No. 1 Boston University vs. No. 4 New Hampshire; No. 2 UMass-Lowell vs. No. 3 Vermont.
Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC): Herb Brooks Arena, Lake Placid, N.Y.; No. 1 Quinnipiac vs. No. 4 Harvard; No. 2 St. Lawrence vs. No. 3 Colgate.
Atlantic Hockey (AH): Blue Cross Arena, Rochester, N.Y.; No. 1 Robert Morris vs. No. 4 Mercyhurst; No. 2 Canisius vs. No. 3 RIT.
Teams that have been knocked out of their conference tournaments but are still contenders for NCAA at-large bids include Minnesota-Duluth and Nebraska-Omaha of the NCHC, Boston College and Providence of Hockey East and Yale of the ECAC.
The NCAA Selection Show is at noon on Sunday on ESPNU.
