Neil’s Notebook: Quick Start, Balanced Scoring Leads to 5-1 Rout for Spartans

By Neil Koepke
MSUSpartans.com staff writer

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – One of the longtime mysteries of college hockey is how a team can be so good in the first game of a series and not so good in the second.

Or, how it can look so bad the first night and bounce back with a gem of a performance in the series finale.

Well, that's the story of Michigan State's weekend here amid the Rocky Mountains and the Spartans' two non-conference games against Colorado College.

The first one, on Friday, was a dud – a 3-1 defeat – and the second game, on Saturday, was very good or even outstanding – a 5-1 victory with several positives and quality contributions by many.

It helps to start fast and that's what the Spartans (2-2 overall) did Saturday night at The Broadmoor World Arena. They scored three goals in the first 6 minutes and 48 seconds and never lost control in earning a split with the Tigers (2-2).

On Friday, MSU's defensemen had trouble getting pucks to the net or even to the open teammates in the offensive zone. On Saturday, the defense scored the first two goals and played a major role in the much-needed victory. They got pucks though, made plays and were good in the defensive zone.

"We were getting a lot more stuff from the defense around the net and it was coming from everywhere,'' MSU senior defenseman Jerad Rosburg said. "We were more determined to get the puck around the goalie and around the net.''

Rosburg scored 75 seconds into the game. He charged into the CC zone, took a pass from left wing Sam Saliba at the top of the left circle, circled the net and darted out front near the right post and slid the between the legs of stunned CC goalie Matt Vernon.

Just 3 minutes and 24 seconds later, sophomore defenseman Cole Krygier fired the puck from the left point and it somehow eluded Vernon for a 2-0 MSU lead. The play was set up after Patrick Khodorenko was booted out of the faceoff circle on the left and Sam Saliba moved in to take the draw. He won it, got the puck to Khodorenko, who slid it back to Krygier who let go with a quick shot that was on target.

The surge continued 2 minutes and 9 seconds later when Gianluca Esteves capped a nice passing play and scored from the edge of the crease on the left at 6:48. For Esteves, it was his first goal as a Spartan.

For CC goalie Vernon, it was the last shot he saw. He was replaced by graduate senior Ryan Ruck, a former Northeastern goaltender. Vernon, the son of former Red Wings and Calgary Flames goalie Mike Vernon, stymied the Spartans on Friday and came within 63 seconds of a shutout in his first collegiate start.

"We had more energy, more jump and we definitely wanted to start out stronger and that was huge for us,'' Rosburg said. "We kept the energy rolling throughout the game. And they had some good shifts and we weathered the storm. We had a couple of key penalty kills and kept the energy and momentum.''

MSU skated off four of five power plays, including a 5-on-3 power play for 1 minute and 4 seconds early in the third period. The Spartans were 0-for-1 on the power play.

After Colorado College made it 3-1 with a late first-period power-play goal, the Spartans scored one goal in the second period and another in the third, and goalie John Lethemon had another stellar game with 35 saves.

Coach Danton Cole liked the way his team rebounded from Friday's disappointing loss and played with better pace, decision-making and execution.

"Our defense was much more efficient tonight. I think (CC) had 16 blocks last night and seven tonight and we kind of went the other way with 19 blocks tonight,'' he said. "They did a nice job. Cole (Krygier) gets rewarded with a goal and then we get a rebound goal.

"It's just that when you're more predictable, it's easier to play faster and obviously easier to score goals.

"We came out and had some chances and the puck went in which was nice to see. Because we've hit a lot of posts this year, and you battle and find yourself down 1-0 and that's tough. For these guys, for their psyche, it was good get a couple to go in so you feel good about yourself. You loosen up and play a little better.''

Five players found the back of the net for the Spartans. In addition to Rosburg, Cole Krygier and Esteves, freshman Nicolas Müller got his first collegiate goal on a rebound in front in the second period and Logan Lambdin scored a nifty backhander from the left side of the net early in the third period.

Khodorenko had three assists, Saliba assisted on the first two goals, Esteves and Rosburg each had a goal and an assist and Dennis Cesana was another defenseman to get a point with an assist.

"We like our depth a little better but we have to play this way. It's funneling pucks on net, making plays and being predictable with things,'' Cole said. "Pucks will go into the net if you do those things.''

After Friday's loss, the Spartans were in danger of dropping to 1-3 on the season. But they kept from being swept and evened their record at 2-2 with all four games on the road.

"These have been two tough places to play with all kinds of challenges,'' Cole said of two split road series at Northern Michigan two weeks ago and this weekend at Colorado college.

"You have the travel, it's early in the year, the big ice, altitude here and the referees are interesting in different leagues, and I'll leave it at that.

"We're 2-2 on the road and it's not bad. I'm kind of greedy – I'd love to be 3-1 or even 4-0, but the games we did lose, they were there for us (to win) but we have to get a little better every game and tighten up.''

UP NEXT: The Spartans will finally make their regular-season debut at Munn Arena next weekend when they face No. 4/3 Cornell at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Cornell (0-0 hasn't played a regular-season game this season because Ivy League rules prohibit playing games until the last weekend of October or early November.

The Big Red blanked the U.S. National Team Development Program's U-18 team 3-0 on Saturday in Ithaca, N.Y.

MSU swept Cornell, 5-2, 4-3, last season in a non-conference series on the road. After facing the Big Red, the Spartans head back out on the road and open Big Ten play at Penn State, Nov. 8-9.

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LINE CHANGES WORK OUT: In an effort to get more offense out of standout forwards Patrick Khodorenko and Mitchell Lewandowski, MSU coach Danton Cole broke up the No. 1 unit on Saturday.

Sam Saliba joined Khodorenko's line with freshman Nicolas Müller while Lewandowski moved off that line and joined freshmen Josh Nodler and Jagger Joshua.

"We needed to get Khodo and Lewie going. They're two of the better players in the country and we want to get them going,'' MSU coach Danton Cole said. "I'm not big on changing stuff like that. I know some guys like to let them work it out.

"They've done a lot for us the last two years. But I was goofing around with numbers (late Friday) and I kind of slid it over to (assistant coach) Joe (Exter) and said 'what do you think?' He said 'it looks pretty interesting.''

So, the Spartans went with the new forward combinations and the offense jelled, Khodorenko had his best game of the season and Saliba made a big impact. Khodorenko had three assists and Saliba helped set up MSU's first two goals.

"It worked pretty well. Saliba stepped up and he had a monster game and Khodo was outstanding,'' Cole said. "They tried two or three different matchups against him and it wasn't working.

"We've got to get him to believe that when he plays that way, he's a handful. He's one of the best in the country and I believe he's going to be a good pro hockey player - as soon as he gets his mind around playing like that.

"It's in him. He cares and works his butt off. So good things will happen.''

Khodorenko started Saturday with one assist in three games. He now leads MSU in scoring with four assists in four games.

"I think it was good. We were able to match up a little better by being separated,'' Khodorenko said of the forward line adjustments. "I think sometimes we're going to have to do that. Saliba was really good.''

What was the difference between Friday's and Saturday's games for the Spartans?

"Maybe a part of it was our legs. We were able to breathe a little easier being more used to it,'' Khodorenko said of the altitude impact on players. "We had a little more pace and we got more pucks in deep instead of trying to make plays at the blue line.

"For myself, I was just trying to play simple and work the corners a little more. I think we were able to do that and change sides and come up with pucks and get shots.''

BALANCE ON OFFENSE: Patrick Khodorenko and Mitchell Lewandowski are MSU's top goal scorers. But neither put the puck in the net on Saturday and the Spartans still flourished, scoring five goals in a 5-1 victory.

Michigan State's five goal scorers include four with their first goals of the season, and two of those scored their first collegiate goals – freshman Nicolas Muller and junior left wing Gianluca Esteves. Senior defenseman Jerad Rosburg and senior left wing Logan Lambdin got their first goals of the season.

"Khodorenko entered the zone on the left side, bumped the puck on the back side of the net and I picked it up on the back side,'' Lambdin said of his goal. "There was a big open area in the slot I just took it. I came around the net and went to my backhand and put it under the goalie's glove.''

For defenseman Cole Krygier, his first period goal was his second of the season.

"It's great and feels good for the whole team that we can get secondary scoring,'' Lambdin said. "And we're not relying on relying on just one line.''

Rosburg said the play that led to his goal – just 1:15 into the first period – reminded him and Saliba of a goal he scored against North Dakota to start a 4-3 win over the Fighting Hawks in Nov. 25, 2016.

"We were talking about it between periods. It was kind of similar to the one in North Dakota,'' Rosburg said. "I scored on the first shift of the game a few years back and it was exact play.

"Sam Saliba was only one down there (in the corner along the left boards) and I came flying into the offensive zone. He made a great play to get me the puck.

"In North Dakota, I one-timed it but this time I kept going around the net. A lot of goalies like to hug the post and I tried to tuck it around him and go five-hole. It worked.

"It was great to get the boys going and a good start for the defense.''

IN THE BIG TEN: No. 6 Wisconsin (4-2) earned a split of its non-conference series against No. 13/12 Clarkson with a dramatic 4-3 victory in which the Badgers scored the game-winner with 6.1 seconds remaining. The Golden Knights tied the game 3-3 with 1:48 left. Clarkson (3-2-1) won the series opener, 4-0, on Friday.

No. 20 Minnesota (3-3) got swept by No. 8/8 Minnesota-Duluth as the Gophers got shut out on Saturday, 2-0. The Bulldogs topped Minnesota, 5-2, on Friday.

No. 18 Western Michigan (2-3-1) got a split in its series with Michigan (3-2-1). After losing 4-0 on Friday in Ann Abor, the Broncos rebounded with a 4-1 victory over the Wolverines on Saturday at Lawson Arena in Kalamazoo.

No. 15/15 Ohio State (4-1-1) completed a sweep of Mercyhurst, winning 3-1 on Saturday after rolling to a 7-3 victory on Saturday.

No. 5/4 Notre Dame (4-0) stayed unbeaten with a 6-4 victory over Lake Superior State on Saturday to sweep the series. The Irish won 5-2 on Friday.

No. 12/9 Penn State (5-1) had Saturday off after defeating Robert Morris, 2-1, on Friday night.

Big Ten play starts this week and weekend as six of the seven teams will play conference series. Wisconsin plays at Penn State on Thursday and Friday. Michigan visits Ohio State and Minnesota plays host to Notre Dame on Friday and Saturday.