Neil’s Notebook: Spartans Score Late to Top Wildcats in Opener
10/13/2018 6:28:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
By Neil Koepke
MSUSpartans.com staff writer
EAST LANSING – Mitchell Lewandowski, Michigan State's high-scoring forward, was credited with seven shots on goal on Friday night.
His first six were stopped by Northern Michigan standout goaltender Atte Tolvanen.
But his seventh wasn't even a shot but it's the one Spartans fans will remember the most from MSU's 2018-19 season opener at Munn Arena.
With overtime looming and Spartan defenseman Tommy Miller controlling the puck in the Wildcats zone in the left circle, Lewandowski drove to the net.
As he tried to stop at the edge of the crease, Miller's perfect backhand pass into the slot went off of one of Lewandowski's skates and somehow found its way past Tolvanen and into the net to break a 2-2 tie with 1:14 left in the third period and send MSU to a 4-2 non-conference victory.
Taro Hirose, who assisted on the game-winner, added an empty-net goal with 1.5 seconds left, with Lewandowski drawing an assist, to cap off a successful opening night for the Spartans (1-0, 0-0-0).
"I just saw the puck enter the zone and late in games, the goal that wins it seems to be kind of a garbage goal, so you go to the net, go to the crease and find the puck,'' Lewandowski said. "Miller threw into the middle and the puck kind of trickled in.''
However, before the goal and 3-2 MSU lead was official, the play was reviewed by the officiating crew to determine whether Lewandowski kicked the puck in or interfered with Tolvanen or if MSU was offside as Miller carried the puck into zone.
After a few minutes of video review, the goal stood, much to the relief of the Spartans and most of the 5,268 enthusiastic fans.
"You're never that confident with a review, but I knew there wasn't an offside so I thought the only thing they could check for was kind of a kicking motion,'' Lewandowski said. "I was just stopping at the net. The intent to put the puck in (with a kicking motion) makes it no goal.''
The Spartans, who outshot Northern Michigan, 45-23, still had to hold off the Wildcats for the final 74 seconds. And they played excellent defense, holding on to the puck and keeping it in the NMU zone. Tolvanen never left the net for a sixth attacker until there were 14 seconds left.
But the Spartans got the puck back, cleared into the offensive zone and Hirose scored from the side of the net – officially at 19:58 - for a two-goal victory.
"Just finding a way to win, that was great," Lewandowski said. "You go into the third period 2-2 so if you win the next 20 minutes, you win the game. Now we have to keep that momentum going into Saturday's game. You win Friday, you set yourself up to sweep on Saturday.''
The Spartans and Wildcats (0-1-0, 0-0-0 WCHA) meet in the non-conference series finale at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Munn Arena.
MSU did not have to rely on its high-scoring KHL line – Patrick Khodorenko-Hirose-Lewandowski – to do all the scoring Friday. The Spartans' first two goals were scored by a pair of seniors – defenseman Zach Osburn on a power play in the first period and left wing Brennan Sanford on an excellent drive to the left from the left boards in the middle period.
The KHL line accounted for 14 shots on goal – Lewandowski 7, Hirose 4, Khodorenko 3 – but the three other lines helped the Spartans dominate offensively. Cody Milan had five shots on goal, Logan Lambdin had four, Sam Saliba three, Wojciech Stachowiak and Sanford two.
In fact, all 12 forwards and five of the seven defensemen dressed had shots stopped by Tolvanen. Only Miller and freshman Christian Krygier did not have a shot on goal.
"We had four lines going and we kept coming at them,'' said Saliba, the Spartans' junior captain who centers a line with Lambdin and Stachowiak.
"We score in the (58th) minute and get two in the last 1:14 and you win the game.
"We came in after the second intermission and we knew this was an opportunity for us to win a hockey game and we didn't let it slip. We played a full 60 minutes. It's a good way to start the season.''
The Spartans, who never trailed, leading 1-0 and 2-1, won the special teams battle, scoring on one of four power-play chances and skating off four Wildcat power plays, including a brief 5-on-3 advantage for 19 seconds in the second period.
"They're a good team. They're quick and their top line (Troy Loggins-Adam Rockwood-Denver Pierce) is tough to play against,'' Lewandowski said.
Coach Danton Cole liked his team's energy, compete level, puck movement and all four lines contributing to MSU's wide edge in shots on goal.
"It usually takes us two games to get to 45 shots,'' Cole said with a laugh. "We talked with the guys before the game about having a good excitement level and a good compete level. Early in the season, that's mandatory.
"I liked the atmosphere, even before the game. On the bench, there was good life. Everyone was jumping.
"Give Northern credit. They push hard. Their fourth guy is coming up a lot on the rush. They come at you. Their top line is really good and they've got a veteran defense back there.''
The Wildcats' goals were scored by defenseman Tony Bretzman in the first period and Darien Craighead in the second period. Bretzman shot the puck from the left point and it caromed off the boards and into the crease where it went off a Spartan and defected back into the net.
Cole said he was pleased with MSU's pace, puck movement and breakouts for most of the game. But there were segments when the Spartans got hemmed in their own zone, especially in the middle of the third period.
"The only time I didn't like it was when our forwards didn't work to get back on defense,'' he said. "It's not lazy. They were just assuming that the defense was going to get the puck and get it by (NMU defenders). I'd rather see us work back to (the defensemen) a little better, but overall, I thought we moved the puck really well.''
In the first period, it took Northern Michigan 8 minutes and 57 seconds to get its first shot on MSU goalie John Lethemon. Before that shot, the 'Cats were being outshot, 13-0.
The last time the Spartans had more than 40 shots on goal was last season on Oct. 27, 2017, against Lake Superior State. They had 41 in a 4-3 win over the Lakers at Munn Arena.
"I hope we come out with even more energy on tomorrow and build on this,'' Cole said. "I told our guys that Northern is going to be better. That is a team that won a lot of games (last season).
"They know how to win and how to play on the road. And they'll find things they know they can do better, and they'll do them tomorrow.''
MUNN CROWD LAUDED: Cole was not only pleased with his team's overall play, he was very impressed with the upbeat atmosphere at Munn Arena, ignited by a strong showing by the raucous student section. And so were his players.
"The crowd was outstanding. The student section – that was the most crowded I've seen it here other than maybe a Michigan game,'' Cole said. "They did a great job. Once all the fans got in and sat down it was really good.''
The students set the tone early and the regular fans followed their lead, making for a good buzz in the building. And it helped that both teams played at a fast pace for the first two periods with a lot of up-and-down play. MSU created lots of good scoring chances with 11 shots in the first period, 18 and 16 in the third.
"We want this building to be sold out, and a lot of that is on us. We have to make sure we play hockey the way people want to see it played and make it exciting,'' Cole said. "It's win some games like this and make them want to come back.
"It's great to play in front of 5,300. It's even more fun to playing in front of 6,300.''
Mitchell Lewandowski noticed the student section filling up even during warm-ups.
"And then at the start, when the lineups were announced, you could see it was pretty crowded,'' he said. "That was nice to see. That's a huge advantage to see the student section like that. They helped us a lot tonight with great support.''
DEFENSE PRODUCES: MSU defensemen had a strong game defensively and chipped in offensively with a goal and two assists and 11 shots on goal.
Senior Zach Osburn had out an outstanding game at both ends of the ice. He scored a power-play goal with a slap shot from the right point on a power play in the first period to give MSU a 1-0 lead, had six shots on goal and was solid defensively.
Tommy Miller set up the game-winner with an opportunistic rush into the offensive zone and strong backhand pass into the slot that went off the skate of Mitchell Lewandowski to give MSU a 3-2 lead with 1:14 left in the third period.
The Spartans dressed seven defensemen and all but Miller and freshmen Christian Krygier had shots on goal. Jerad Rosburg had two shots on goal, and Cole Krygier, Dennis Cesana and Butrus Ghafari each had one.
Miller said his rush into the NMU zone and subsequent pass into the slot was not something he planned as he found himself with some room to roam in the final two minutes.
"It's what you read and what other players are doing, but it's a situation which we work on all the time in practice,'' said Miller, a sophomore and known as a consistent stay-at-home defenseman. "I knew I had one guy to beat and carried it in. I knew Lewie was driving to the net and just thought I'm going to throw it to the new and he's going to make a good play out of it. He got a good bounce and it he ended up getting a skate on it and it went in.
"I didn't know if he kicked it or got a stick on it. I asked the guys on the bench and they said he re-directed it and that it should be a goal.''
SANFORD CHIPS IN: Senior Brennan Sanford plays left wing on a shutdown line with center Tommy Apap and right wing Brody Stevens and kills penalties. On Friday, he made a solid play coming down the left wing to drive to net and give MSU a 2-1 lead early in the second period.
"I checked over my shoulder to see if there was anyone with me. I think there was a (teammate) trailing late, and their defensemen played me a little too conservative,'' Sanford said. "He was playing for the pass and gave me too much room. So I took it to the net put in a backhander.''
Sanford, an assistant captain last season and this season, scored five goals as a freshman, three as a sophomore and five as a junior.
"It's great when I can contribute at both ends of the ice,'' he said. "Coach expects a lot out of me in terms of defense and penalty killing, and I see myself as a two-way player, and anytime I can contribute offensively, that's great.''
GOALTENDING SOLID: Junior goalie John Lethemon didn't face a ton of difficult chances but was steady and sharp in making 21 saves. He made some big stops midway through the third period when Northern Michigan was suddenly carrying the play and buzzing in the Spartans' zone.
Lethemon made nine saves in the third period to keep his team his team from falling behind, setting up the Spartans' exciting finish.
In Saturday's series finale, freshman Drew DeRidder will get his first collegiate start against the Wildcats.
IN THE BIG TEN: Ohio State, Penn State and Wisconsin won and Notre Dame tied in regular-season openers and Michigan lost in an exhibition game on Friday night.
The Buckeyes, ranked No. 1 in the nation in both major polls, edged Arizona State, 3-2, in Tempe, Ariz. No. 16 Penn State (2-0-0, 0-0-0) completed a non-conference sweep of No. 17 Clarkson (0-2-0, 0-0-0 ECAC) with a 5-1 win in University Park, Pa. The Nittany Lions won the series opener 4-3 on Thursday.
Wisconsin shut out No. 12 Boston College, 3-0, in Madison.
Notre Dame, ranked No. 2, and Mercyhurst got involved in high-scoring affair in a semifinal in the Ice Breaker Tournament in Erie, Pa. The game ended in a 6-6 tie after overtime, but the Fighting Irish (0-0-1, 0-0-0) won the shootout to advance to Saturday's championship against Providence. The Friars topped Miami, 4-0, in the other semifinal.
Meanwhile, the No. 9 Wolverines (0-1-0, 0-0-0) were upended by the U.S. National Team Development Program's Under-18 team, 6-3, in an exhibition game at Yost Arena.
The highly skilled and talented U.S. U-18 team plays host to No. 6 Minnesota (1-0-1, 0-0-0) in an exhibition game on Saturday in Plymouth.
MSUSpartans.com staff writer
EAST LANSING – Mitchell Lewandowski, Michigan State's high-scoring forward, was credited with seven shots on goal on Friday night.
His first six were stopped by Northern Michigan standout goaltender Atte Tolvanen.
But his seventh wasn't even a shot but it's the one Spartans fans will remember the most from MSU's 2018-19 season opener at Munn Arena.
With overtime looming and Spartan defenseman Tommy Miller controlling the puck in the Wildcats zone in the left circle, Lewandowski drove to the net.
As he tried to stop at the edge of the crease, Miller's perfect backhand pass into the slot went off of one of Lewandowski's skates and somehow found its way past Tolvanen and into the net to break a 2-2 tie with 1:14 left in the third period and send MSU to a 4-2 non-conference victory.
Taro Hirose, who assisted on the game-winner, added an empty-net goal with 1.5 seconds left, with Lewandowski drawing an assist, to cap off a successful opening night for the Spartans (1-0, 0-0-0).
"I just saw the puck enter the zone and late in games, the goal that wins it seems to be kind of a garbage goal, so you go to the net, go to the crease and find the puck,'' Lewandowski said. "Miller threw into the middle and the puck kind of trickled in.''
However, before the goal and 3-2 MSU lead was official, the play was reviewed by the officiating crew to determine whether Lewandowski kicked the puck in or interfered with Tolvanen or if MSU was offside as Miller carried the puck into zone.
After a few minutes of video review, the goal stood, much to the relief of the Spartans and most of the 5,268 enthusiastic fans.
"You're never that confident with a review, but I knew there wasn't an offside so I thought the only thing they could check for was kind of a kicking motion,'' Lewandowski said. "I was just stopping at the net. The intent to put the puck in (with a kicking motion) makes it no goal.''
The Spartans, who outshot Northern Michigan, 45-23, still had to hold off the Wildcats for the final 74 seconds. And they played excellent defense, holding on to the puck and keeping it in the NMU zone. Tolvanen never left the net for a sixth attacker until there were 14 seconds left.
But the Spartans got the puck back, cleared into the offensive zone and Hirose scored from the side of the net – officially at 19:58 - for a two-goal victory.
"Just finding a way to win, that was great," Lewandowski said. "You go into the third period 2-2 so if you win the next 20 minutes, you win the game. Now we have to keep that momentum going into Saturday's game. You win Friday, you set yourself up to sweep on Saturday.''
The Spartans and Wildcats (0-1-0, 0-0-0 WCHA) meet in the non-conference series finale at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Munn Arena.
MSU did not have to rely on its high-scoring KHL line – Patrick Khodorenko-Hirose-Lewandowski – to do all the scoring Friday. The Spartans' first two goals were scored by a pair of seniors – defenseman Zach Osburn on a power play in the first period and left wing Brennan Sanford on an excellent drive to the left from the left boards in the middle period.
The KHL line accounted for 14 shots on goal – Lewandowski 7, Hirose 4, Khodorenko 3 – but the three other lines helped the Spartans dominate offensively. Cody Milan had five shots on goal, Logan Lambdin had four, Sam Saliba three, Wojciech Stachowiak and Sanford two.
In fact, all 12 forwards and five of the seven defensemen dressed had shots stopped by Tolvanen. Only Miller and freshman Christian Krygier did not have a shot on goal.
"We had four lines going and we kept coming at them,'' said Saliba, the Spartans' junior captain who centers a line with Lambdin and Stachowiak.
"We score in the (58th) minute and get two in the last 1:14 and you win the game.
"We came in after the second intermission and we knew this was an opportunity for us to win a hockey game and we didn't let it slip. We played a full 60 minutes. It's a good way to start the season.''
The Spartans, who never trailed, leading 1-0 and 2-1, won the special teams battle, scoring on one of four power-play chances and skating off four Wildcat power plays, including a brief 5-on-3 advantage for 19 seconds in the second period.
"They're a good team. They're quick and their top line (Troy Loggins-Adam Rockwood-Denver Pierce) is tough to play against,'' Lewandowski said.
Coach Danton Cole liked his team's energy, compete level, puck movement and all four lines contributing to MSU's wide edge in shots on goal.
"It usually takes us two games to get to 45 shots,'' Cole said with a laugh. "We talked with the guys before the game about having a good excitement level and a good compete level. Early in the season, that's mandatory.
"I liked the atmosphere, even before the game. On the bench, there was good life. Everyone was jumping.
"Give Northern credit. They push hard. Their fourth guy is coming up a lot on the rush. They come at you. Their top line is really good and they've got a veteran defense back there.''
The Wildcats' goals were scored by defenseman Tony Bretzman in the first period and Darien Craighead in the second period. Bretzman shot the puck from the left point and it caromed off the boards and into the crease where it went off a Spartan and defected back into the net.
Cole said he was pleased with MSU's pace, puck movement and breakouts for most of the game. But there were segments when the Spartans got hemmed in their own zone, especially in the middle of the third period.
"The only time I didn't like it was when our forwards didn't work to get back on defense,'' he said. "It's not lazy. They were just assuming that the defense was going to get the puck and get it by (NMU defenders). I'd rather see us work back to (the defensemen) a little better, but overall, I thought we moved the puck really well.''
In the first period, it took Northern Michigan 8 minutes and 57 seconds to get its first shot on MSU goalie John Lethemon. Before that shot, the 'Cats were being outshot, 13-0.
The last time the Spartans had more than 40 shots on goal was last season on Oct. 27, 2017, against Lake Superior State. They had 41 in a 4-3 win over the Lakers at Munn Arena.
"I hope we come out with even more energy on tomorrow and build on this,'' Cole said. "I told our guys that Northern is going to be better. That is a team that won a lot of games (last season).
"They know how to win and how to play on the road. And they'll find things they know they can do better, and they'll do them tomorrow.''
MUNN CROWD LAUDED: Cole was not only pleased with his team's overall play, he was very impressed with the upbeat atmosphere at Munn Arena, ignited by a strong showing by the raucous student section. And so were his players.
"The crowd was outstanding. The student section – that was the most crowded I've seen it here other than maybe a Michigan game,'' Cole said. "They did a great job. Once all the fans got in and sat down it was really good.''
The students set the tone early and the regular fans followed their lead, making for a good buzz in the building. And it helped that both teams played at a fast pace for the first two periods with a lot of up-and-down play. MSU created lots of good scoring chances with 11 shots in the first period, 18 and 16 in the third.
"We want this building to be sold out, and a lot of that is on us. We have to make sure we play hockey the way people want to see it played and make it exciting,'' Cole said. "It's win some games like this and make them want to come back.
"It's great to play in front of 5,300. It's even more fun to playing in front of 6,300.''
Mitchell Lewandowski noticed the student section filling up even during warm-ups.
"And then at the start, when the lineups were announced, you could see it was pretty crowded,'' he said. "That was nice to see. That's a huge advantage to see the student section like that. They helped us a lot tonight with great support.''
DEFENSE PRODUCES: MSU defensemen had a strong game defensively and chipped in offensively with a goal and two assists and 11 shots on goal.
Senior Zach Osburn had out an outstanding game at both ends of the ice. He scored a power-play goal with a slap shot from the right point on a power play in the first period to give MSU a 1-0 lead, had six shots on goal and was solid defensively.
Tommy Miller set up the game-winner with an opportunistic rush into the offensive zone and strong backhand pass into the slot that went off the skate of Mitchell Lewandowski to give MSU a 3-2 lead with 1:14 left in the third period.
The Spartans dressed seven defensemen and all but Miller and freshmen Christian Krygier had shots on goal. Jerad Rosburg had two shots on goal, and Cole Krygier, Dennis Cesana and Butrus Ghafari each had one.
Miller said his rush into the NMU zone and subsequent pass into the slot was not something he planned as he found himself with some room to roam in the final two minutes.
"It's what you read and what other players are doing, but it's a situation which we work on all the time in practice,'' said Miller, a sophomore and known as a consistent stay-at-home defenseman. "I knew I had one guy to beat and carried it in. I knew Lewie was driving to the net and just thought I'm going to throw it to the new and he's going to make a good play out of it. He got a good bounce and it he ended up getting a skate on it and it went in.
"I didn't know if he kicked it or got a stick on it. I asked the guys on the bench and they said he re-directed it and that it should be a goal.''
SANFORD CHIPS IN: Senior Brennan Sanford plays left wing on a shutdown line with center Tommy Apap and right wing Brody Stevens and kills penalties. On Friday, he made a solid play coming down the left wing to drive to net and give MSU a 2-1 lead early in the second period.
"I checked over my shoulder to see if there was anyone with me. I think there was a (teammate) trailing late, and their defensemen played me a little too conservative,'' Sanford said. "He was playing for the pass and gave me too much room. So I took it to the net put in a backhander.''
Sanford, an assistant captain last season and this season, scored five goals as a freshman, three as a sophomore and five as a junior.
"It's great when I can contribute at both ends of the ice,'' he said. "Coach expects a lot out of me in terms of defense and penalty killing, and I see myself as a two-way player, and anytime I can contribute offensively, that's great.''
GOALTENDING SOLID: Junior goalie John Lethemon didn't face a ton of difficult chances but was steady and sharp in making 21 saves. He made some big stops midway through the third period when Northern Michigan was suddenly carrying the play and buzzing in the Spartans' zone.
Lethemon made nine saves in the third period to keep his team his team from falling behind, setting up the Spartans' exciting finish.
In Saturday's series finale, freshman Drew DeRidder will get his first collegiate start against the Wildcats.
IN THE BIG TEN: Ohio State, Penn State and Wisconsin won and Notre Dame tied in regular-season openers and Michigan lost in an exhibition game on Friday night.
The Buckeyes, ranked No. 1 in the nation in both major polls, edged Arizona State, 3-2, in Tempe, Ariz. No. 16 Penn State (2-0-0, 0-0-0) completed a non-conference sweep of No. 17 Clarkson (0-2-0, 0-0-0 ECAC) with a 5-1 win in University Park, Pa. The Nittany Lions won the series opener 4-3 on Thursday.
Wisconsin shut out No. 12 Boston College, 3-0, in Madison.
Notre Dame, ranked No. 2, and Mercyhurst got involved in high-scoring affair in a semifinal in the Ice Breaker Tournament in Erie, Pa. The game ended in a 6-6 tie after overtime, but the Fighting Irish (0-0-1, 0-0-0) won the shootout to advance to Saturday's championship against Providence. The Friars topped Miami, 4-0, in the other semifinal.
Meanwhile, the No. 9 Wolverines (0-1-0, 0-0-0) were upended by the U.S. National Team Development Program's Under-18 team, 6-3, in an exhibition game at Yost Arena.
The highly skilled and talented U.S. U-18 team plays host to No. 6 Minnesota (1-0-1, 0-0-0) in an exhibition game on Saturday in Plymouth.
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