Neil's Notebook: Defensive-Minded Joe Cox Developing Offensive Prowess
2/18/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
By Neil Koepke
MSUSpartans.com staff writer
MADISON, Wis. -- Joe Cox came into his junior season with the reputation of being one of the best defensive forwards in the Big Ten and arguably all of college hockey.
In his first wo seasons at Michigan State, Cox developed into an excellent shut-down defensive forward and a bold, brave, effective penalty killer.
This season, the 6-foot, 175-pound right wing from Chelsea has added another segment to his game.
Cox has brought an offensive touch to a Spartan team that has struggled to put the puck in the net consistently. He's MSU's second-leading goal scorer with eight, two behind present linemate Mackenzie MacEachern's 10 goals.
With seven assists and 15 points in 30 games, Cox is the Spartans' fifth-leading scorer.
"In my exit meeting after last season with Coach (Tom) Anastos, one of the things we keyed on was me capitalizing on the (scoring) opportunities that I make for myself and getting my release off quicker,'' Cox said.
"I took it to heart and went home in the summer and worked on that kind of stuff, and then worked on it when I got back. I think it's paid off pretty well.''
Indeed, it has.
Cox has shown a flair for offense despite often being matched up against the opponent's top forward line. And he continues to be MSU's top penalty killer and fearless shot blocker.
Cox's versatile line, with junior center Thomas Ebbing (4-10-14) and left wing MacEachern (10-12-22), will be counted on to play defense and provide offense when the fifth-place Spartans (7-20-3 overall, 3-10-1 Big Ten) face off against sixth-place Wisconsin (6-13-7, 1-8-3) at 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Kohl Center in Madison.
The Spartans hold a three-point lead over the Badgers, who have played two fewer games.
"I think having a sound defensive game has contributed to this,'' Cox said of his improved offensive skills. "You don't have to worry about it (defense) as much, but it's really about kind of bearing down on my chances. And watching video every opportunity I had.''
Cox played a huge role in the Spartans' recent 3-2 victory over Michigan at Joe Louis Arena.
He scored two goals -- the first on a penalty shot in the second period and the tying goal with a quick wrist shot late in the third period -- and had seven shots on goal.
And his alert interception in the U-M zone and drive to the net drew a penalty in overtime that led to the winning goal by Matt DeBlouw. Cox was on the power play, standing in front of the net when DeBlouw's shot whizzed by him and off the left post and into the net.,
"I know I'm not going to be scoring the prettiest goals. It's more about working in the dirty areas,'' Cox said. "Confidence is another factor. It's my junior year so I've been around the league a little bit and I have a feel for how things should go.''
As a freshman, Cox had six goals and six assists for 12 points in 36 games. Last season, he had five goals and 15 assists for a career-high 20 points in 35 games. He had 51 shots on goal in his first season, 65 as a sophomore and has 67 shots through 30 games this season.
"Joe is one of the most versatile guys we have on our team. He plays in all different situations,'' Anastos said. "Offensively, he's gaining experience and with that, he's a little more poised around the net, and he's starting to realize he has to get the puck off quicker.
"He's going to the scoring areas better, and I think he can still improve on having a mindset to shoot the puck more often in that area. I think a lot of his success has to do with ice time. He's earned a lot of ice time. He's playing with players who give him more opportunity to score, as well.
"At the same time, he's playing against the top lines on the other teams, and that's not making it easier.''
Cox, along with MacEachern and Ebbing, played against Michigan's heralded CCM line -- Kyle Conner, JT Compher and Tyler Motte -- two weeks and did a solid job of containing them. This weekend, they'll probably be matched up against the Badgers' top unit of Luke Kunin, Cameron Hughes and Grant Besse.
"What makes Joe go is he's a relentless competitor,'' Anastos said. "If you came and watched him every day in practice, it's amazing the level of compete he shows. And that carries over to the games.''
Before arriving at Michigan State in the fall of 2013, Cox played two seasons for the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the U.S. Hockey League. He had six goals and 20 points in 57 games in his first season, and then broke loose in 2012-13 and had 20 goals and 20 assists for 40 points in 62 games.
"Things kinds of fell into place the second year. The experience was a big difference,'' he said. "I played with a good bunch of guys. I played (on a line) with Mason Jobst, who's now at Ohio State, and Adam Gilmour of Boston College. I had good players around me, and that's the way it's been here.
"Ebbs is a hard-working player and so is Mackenzie, and they're skilled. I love playing with those guys. They make my game easier to play.''
Spartans senior center and captain Mike Ferrantino isn't surprised that Cox has added an offensive touch to his game.
"He's really a skilled player. He doesn't always show it in games like he does in practice, but he has good hands and it was just a matter of time before he broke out,'' Ferrantino said. "He's matured a lot. He's stepped into a big role right away and he's always been a team-first kind of guy. He protects his own zone before he plays offense.
"Joe is a really smart player. His hockey IQ is really, really high. He reads the play well and that allows him to create offense for himself, to get in on those breaks.''
MAKING A RUN? Coach Tom Anastos still believes that his team, with a determined mindset, can find the consistency it needs to make a strong, late run and be a dangerous team in the Big Ten Tournament next month in St. Paul, Minn.
"Definitely. We have to create more consistency to our game and up and down our lineup in performance,'' he said. "What causes frustration is for us is we see a level that we're capable of playing. We have excellent goaltending, and in this sport, that dynamic is a game-changer.
"So it's up to us to put it together and get better between now and the end of the season, and go into the tournament and see what kind of noise we can make.''
After facing Wisconsin this weekend, the Spartans have next weekend off, then play host to Minnesota, March 4-5, and Ohio State, March 11-12.
"What we're looking for (this weekend) is consistency. Consistency in all areas of our game,'' Anastos said. "Our goaltending has been a lot better. I think Hildy (Jake Hildebrand) has found his groove again.
"But we still haven't generated much puck luck. We have to move the puck consistently and have consistent special teams.
"We've had a lot of (scoring) chances over the last 3-4 weeks. We've had odd-man rushes and point-blank chances. We have to capitalize on those. That's what's it's going to take to pull our game to a level that gives us a chance to win and win with consistency.''
SCOUTING THE BADGERS: Wisconsin is a much better team than it was last season, when a very young and inexperienced group went 4-26-5 overall and 2-15-3 in the Big Ten.
But while the Badgers (6-13-7, 1-8-3-1) are more skilled and experienced and their compete level is higher, the improvement hasn't showed up in their record.
Wisconsin's only conference win came at Michigan State -- 3-0 on Dec. 5. Yet, the Badgers have tied Michigan twice, including a 4-4 deadlock and shootout loss last Saturday in Madison, and early in November, they upset No. 1 North Dakota, 3-1, in Grand Forks.
Since its victory over MSU, Wisconsin is 2-6-2, with both victories coming at home against Alaska in late January.
"I think their younger players have gained a lot of experience because they've been forced to play a ton, and they're gaining more consistency in their game,'' Anastos said. "I have a lot more respect for their team than maybe some give them credit for, because I think their team is getting better.''
Two years ago, Wisconsin had a 24-11-2 overall record, finished second in the Big Ten at 13-6-1 and won the first conference tournament championship, before getting knocked off by North Dakota in the NCAA regionals.
The Badgers lost 10 players from that team who were regulars, and have been in a major rebuilding mode ever since.
"They had a big influx of change and that's hard to overcome, but I think they have talented and skilled players, and as they gain experience, they'll become more of a dangerous team,'' Anastos said.
The Badgers' top forwards include junior Grant Besse (7-17-24), freshman Luke Kunin (12-9-21), sophomore Ryan Wagner (10-11-21), freshman Seamus Malone (3-16-19) and sophomores Cameron Hughes (3-13-16) and Adam Rockwood (2-12-14).
Besse was drafted in the fifth round by the Anaheim Ducks, while Kunin, a product of the U.S. National Team Development Program, is expected to be a first-round pick in the NHL Entry Draft in Buffalo in June.
"They're still a pretty young team but they have a bunch of skill and they're top lines are filled with guys that can put the puck in the net,'' senior right wing Joe Cox said. "They're getting experience and confidence.''
In their 4-4 tie against the Wolverines last Saturday, the Badgers' lineup included eight freshmen, seven sophomores, two juniors and two seniors.
Wisconsin has a freshman in goal in Matt Jurusik, 18, a 6-foot-2, 193-pounder from La Grange, Ill. He's played in 25 games, started 24, and has a 3.40 goals-against average and .893 saves percentage. He has one shutout -- the 3-0 victory vs. MSU.
The Badgers average 2.62 goals per game, fifth in the Big Ten and 33rd in the nation, and are allowed 3.58 goals per game (6th, 53rd). Their penalty killing is at 85 percent efficiency, fourth in the conference and 13th nationally. Their power is at 18.9 percent (5th, 23rd).
"Even though their record isn't what they wanted, I think they're improved from last year,'' MSU captain Mike Ferrantino said. "They're kind of like us in that their record isn't indicative of how good their team can be.''
"Their younger players are a year older and smarter and stronger. Kunin skates really well and he's tough to play against. You have to watch him when he's out there. He's a catalyst up front.''
THE RIVALRY: Michigan State leads the series against Wisconsin, 50-47-3, and holds a 4-1 edge in the last five games. But in the last 10, it's 5-5.
Last season, the Spartans were upset by the Badgers, 2-1, to open a series in Madison on Feb. 20, 2015. But then MSU, and goalie Jake Hildebrand, shut out Wisconsin 3-0 in three straight games. It started in Madison, Feb. 21. The Spartans then swept the Badgers to end the regular season March 6-7 at Munn Arena.
IN THE BIG TEN: In the other series in the conference this weekend, fourth place Ohio State (8-16-2, 3-7-2-1) is at third-place Penn State (18-8-4, 8-5-1) on Friday and Saturday. The Nittany Lions are 14 points ahead of the Buckeyes.
No. 6-ranked Michigan (18-4-5, 9-2-3), now in second place, plays a non-conference game against Ferris State on Friday.
First-place Minnesota (16-13-0, 11-3-0) is off this weekend.
To no one's surprise, the top three scorers in the Big Ten in overall games are from Michigan. Kyle Connor is the top scorer with 22 goals and 26 assists for 48 points. Linemate JT Compher is second with 11 goals and 32 assists for 43 points, one more than Tyler Motte, the third member of the CCM line. Motte has a 27 goals and 15 assists for 42 points.
Connor is No. 1 in the nation in points, Compher is No. 3 and Motte is tied for fourth. Motte's is the nation's top goal scorer and Compher leads in assists.
The Wolverines continue to be the highest-scoring team, now averaging of 4.78 goals per game.
After Connor, Compher and Motte, Minnesota's forwards rank No. 4-6 in overall scoring in the conference. Hudson Fasching (18-15) and Justin Kloos (14-19) have 33 points apiece, while Leon Bristedt (15-15) has 30 points.
Michigan State's Mackenzie MacEachern is in a five-way tie for 13th in overall scoring with 10 goals and 12 assists for 22 points.
Meanwhile, Big Ten goaltenders don't have the national prestige as the forwards. Eamon McAdam of Penn State and Ohio State's Christian Fry have the best goals-against averages in the Big Ten at 2.52 and 2.53, respectively. Minnesota's Eric Schierhorn is third with a 2.57 GAA.
But McAdam ranks No. 40 nationally and Fry is right behind at No. 41. Schierhorn is 43rd. MSU's Jake Hildebrand, with a 3.29 goals-against average is No. 6 in the Big Ten and No. 66 nationally.
