Friday, February 15
East Lansing, Mich.
7:00 P.M. ET
Michigan State University
vs
Penn State
Photo by: Rey Del Rio/MSU Athletic Communications
Spartans Host No. 17 Penn State in Regular Season Home Finale
2/13/2019 4:06:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
No. 17 Penn State (16-10-2, 8-9-1-1 B1G) vs. Michigan State (10-15-5, 6-10-4-2 B1G)
Dates | Times: Friday, Feb. 15 | 7 p.m. // Saturday, Feb. 16 | 7 p.m.
Location: Munn Ice Arena | East Lansing
Tickets: MSUSpartans.com
Promotions: Friday – Family 4 Pack // Saturday – 4 seats, 4 treats
Web Stream: BTN Plus on BTN2Go ($)
Radio: Spartan Sports Network | Local: WJIM-AM 1240
Game Notes: Michigan State | Penn State | Big Ten
Social Media: @MSU_Hockey
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On The Fly...
• Michigan State hosts Penn State in its final regular-season home series of the season this weekend at Munn … With four games remaining, MSU has 24 points and is in sixth place, just four points out of third place as the third through sixth-place teams are separated by a total of just four points.
• Penn State, which swept Minnesota at home last weekend, is in fifth place with 26 points.
• The Spartans will honor their three seniors – Cody Milan, Brennan Sanford and Zach Osburn – prior to the start of Saturday's game at approximately 6:45 p.m.
• Junior Taro Hirose continues to lead the nation in both points (47), points per game (1.57), assists (32) and assists per game (1.07) … He leads the country - or is tied for the lead - in 10 different categories.
• Both Taro Hirose (6-10--16) and Mitchell Lewandowski (9-5--14) have points in nine of the last 10 games.
• Michigan State is the only team in the nation to have three players in the top 12 nationally in points in linemates Taro Hirose (15-32--47), Patrick Khodorenko (16-17--33) and Mitchell Lewandowski (15-18--33) … The KHL line has combined for 113 points (48% of the team total).
• Khodorenko and Lewandowski are both tied for 12th nationally in points, while Khodorenko ranks sixth in goals and Lewandowski 11th.
• With 113 points (33g, 80a) in 100 career games, Hirose's 1.13 points per game average is the highest among all Spartans that have hit the 100-point mark since 2000.
• Freshman Dennis Cesana leads all Big Ten freshmen in assists with 19, while he's tied for first in points among league rookies with 22 … Cesana has four assists over the last four games, including one in each game last weekend.
• Cesana's 22 points are the most by a Spartan freshman defenseman since Jeff Petry's 24 in 2007-08.
• The Spartans have extinguished 18-of-19 opponent power plays (.947) over the last five games.
• Since the beginning of January, the Spartans are averaging 3.33 goals per game, which ranks 17th over the span and is 0.43 above their season average.
About Penn State
After dropping four in a row, Penn State has won three straight games and is coming off a sweep of Minnesota (7-2, 6-2) last weekend at home … PSU leads the country in goals (131), goals per game (4.68) and shots on goal per game (39.68) … The Nittany Lions are sixth nationally in power-play percentage (.258) and are 45th in penalty killing (.781) … Penn State boasts the third and sixth-highest scoring players in the country in Evan Barratt (15-22--37) and Alex Limoges (16-20--36), respectively … Junior Peyton Jones has made 21 starts in goal, going 12-7-2 with a 3.28 GAA and .900 save percentage.
Against the Nittany Lions
Dating back to last season, MSU is 2-3-1 with a shootout win vs. the Nittany Lions … Taro Hirose is the Spartans' active leader in points against Penn State with 14, including six goals and eight assists, in 10 games … Mitchell Lewandowski has six points (3g, 3a) in six career meetings vs. PSU.
Hirose Continuing to Lead the Nation
Junior Taro Hirose has proven to be one of the most consistent offensive producers in the country and for the sixth straight week he leads the country in both points (47), points per game (1.57), assists (32) and assists per game (1.07). He has had multiple points in 14 of the Spartans' 30 games this season and dating back to the end of last season, he has points in 32 of the Spartans' last 39 games.
Hirose has points in all but six games this season, including in 18 of the last 21, and is coming off a career best nine-game point streak over which he had 16 points (6g, 10a).
Hirose has 14 multi-point games this season, which is tied for the most in the country, including an NCAA-best nine three-point games. MSU is 10-3-1 when Hirose records multiple points, and 7-1-1 when he has three points.
For Comparison's Sake…
Hirose's 47 points, which are the most by a Spartan since Jim Slater's 48 in 2004-05, are the same amount last year's Hobey Baker Award winner, Adam Gaudette, had through 30 games in 2017-18. Hirose also has three more assists (32) than any other player through 30 games last season.
Khodorenko's Scoring Touch
Patrick Khodorenko is having his best season for the Green and White with a career-high 16 goals and 33 points, which rank sixth and 12th, respectively, in the country. In the 12 games since the beginning of January, Khodorenko has 16 points (4g, 12a).
The native of Walnut Creek, California, who played for Danton Cole with the USNTDP has found a good amount of success on the power play as his seven goals on the man-advantage are tied for second in the Big Ten and are fifth most in the nation.
Khodorenko had four points vs. Wisconsin (Feb. 1-2), including two goals in the 4-1 win. On Jan. 4 vs. Ohio State he became the first Spartan since Greg Wolfe in 2011 to have four assists in a game. It was his second four-point game of the season as he was named the Big Ten First Star of the Week on Nov. 6 for the first time in his career after a hat trick and assist on Nov. 2 in a win over Ferris State.
Hirose On Pace With Elite Spartans
Taro Hirose's offensive pace is placing him with some of the best Spartan point-producers since 2000. With 113 points in 100 games, he became just 15th Spartan to hit the 100-point mark since 2000 (69th in program history).
Most impressively are Hirose's points and assists-per-game averages. Of the 15 Spartans to reach 100 career points since 2000, Hirose has the highest point-per-game average at 1.13, above even Jim Slater (1.1 points per game/172 career points) and Shawn Horcoff (0.98 points per game/152 career points).
With 80 total helpers, Hirose's 0.8 assist per game average is the highest of any Spartan that reached the 100 point mark since 2000. The 80 assists are the sixth most by a Spartan since 2000.
In his career (100 games), Hirose has more games with multiple points (31) than games without a point (28).
January Brings Goals
The Spartan offense has trended upward with the beginning of the new calendar year. The Spartans' 29 goals in January were tied for the fifth most in the country during the month, and their average of 3.62 during the month ranked ninth in the country and third in the Big Ten over the span.
MSU scored at least five goals in three straight games (Jan. 12-20) for the first time since Feb. 2008. Their 10 total goals in the sweep of Minnesota were their most in a series since an Oct. 2017 sweep of Lake Superior State (4-3, 6-0).
Currently, the Spartans are averaging 2.9 goals per game, which ranks 30th in the country and is 0.37 higher than their average from last season.
Cesana Leading B1G Rookies
Rookie Dennis Cesana has made a significant impact on the Spartan blue line this season as he leads all freshmen in the Big Ten with 19 assists, while he's tied for first in points among rookies with 22. He had an assist in each game last weekend and his 22 points are the most by a Spartan freshman defenseman since Jeff Petry's 24 in 2007-08.
The native of Providence, R.I., who led all defensemen in the AJHL in points (75) last season, has produced three three-point games since Dec. 30. Cesana had a goal and two assists against Lake Superior State in the GLI; scored the tying goal with 47 seconds to play - and added two helpers - in the 7-7 tie vs. Ohio State on January 4; and had three assist in the Jan. 19 5-3 win over Minnesota. He has 14 points (2g, 12a) over the last 14 games.
Lewandowski Heats Up
After being held without a point in the final three games of December, Mitchell Lewandowski has been on a hot streak with 17 points over of the last 12 games, since the beginning of January. His 10 goals over the stretch are tied for the most in the country since January began.
While his career long eight-game point streak came to an end last Friday, Lewandowski bounced back the following night with two goals, giving him 14 points (9g, 5a) over the last 10 games. On the season, his 33 points (15g, 18a) rank 12th in the NCAA and are one shy of his total from last season.
Last year's Big Ten Rookie of the Year was named the league's second star of the week on Jan. 22 after scoring two goals in both games of the sweep of Minnesota.
In B1G Play…
Taro Hirose leads the league in points (31), points per game (1.55), plus/minus (+13) and is tied for the lead in assists (21) … Mitchell Lewandowski is second in goals (12) and sixth in points (24) … Patrick Khodorenko is tied for third in points (25) and is tied with Hirose for fifth in goals (10) … Tommy Apap leads in faceoff wins (239) and his .593 faceoff winning percentage is third highest.
Rosburg Having a Career Best Season
After posting 11 points in each of his first two seasons, redshirt junior defenseman Jerad Rosburg has 14 (3g, 11a) this season, which is tied with Zach Osburn for the second most among Spartan blue liners. Six of Rosburg's points (1g, 5a) have come in the 12 games since the Beginning of January. He also leads the Spartans in blocked shots with 55.
Young on the Back End
For the second straight year, the Spartans have just one senior defenseman in Zach Osburn. While Osburn is the Spartans' active leader in games played at 135, he is surrounded by youth with three freshmen – Dennis Cesana, Cole Krygier and Christian Krygier – and a sophomore – Tommy Miller – in the regular playing group. Redshirt junior Jerad Rosburg has played in all 30 games, while junior Butrus Ghafari has played in 22.
College Hockey's Highest-Scoring Line
Since playing together in the first game of last season, Patrick Khodorenko (16-17--33), Taro Hirose (15-32--47) and Mitchell Lewandowski (15-18--33) have combined to form one of college hockey's most dangerous lines.
• The trio makes MSU the only team with three players in the top-12 nationally in points
• Has 15 (8g, 7a) of the Spartans' 29 total points over the last four games
• Combined for 113 of 235 (48%) of the Spartans' total points, up from 108 (44g, 64a) last season in 36 games … That's a combined 221 points in 66career games playing together (3.3/gm)
• Combined for a season-high 10 points on Jan. 4 vs. Ohio State
Khodorenko – 16 goals (T-6 NCAA), 33 points (T-12 NCAA) ... MSU's active career leader in goals (36) ... Ranked 12th in the Big Ten and third on the team in points (32) last season.
Hirose – Has led the nation in points (46) assists (31) since Jan. 5 … Has an NCAA-best nine game-winning points ... Has points in 32 of 39 games dating back to last season ... Has 14 multi-point games this season and 31 in his career ... Just the 15th Spartan since 2000 to hit the 100-career point mark (33-80--113) ... 2018 All-Big Ten second team … His 42 points last season were the most by a Spartan since Corey Tropp had the same number in 2009-10.
Lewandowski – Team leader with four game-winning goals and active leader with nine in his career ... 15 goals (T-11 NCAA), 33 points (T-12 NCAA) ... 2018 Big Ten Freshman of the Year and only unanimous selection to the Big Ten All-Freshman team … Led all rookies nationally in goals (19) and tied for the most in the Big Ten (among all players) during the regular season.
DeRidder the Nation's Youngest Goaltender
Freshman Drew DeRidder, the youngest goaltender in college hockey (DOB: 5/1/00), has made 16 starts this season, sporting a .910 save percentage and 3.12 GAA. DeRidder has started each of the last five games, which is the most consecutive starts for either Spartan goalie this year. He made 52 saves in the 2-2 tie vs. Wisconsin on Feb. 2, marking the first time a Spartan goaltender made at least 50 stops since Jeff Lerg in Jan. 2009.
The native of Fenton was named the Big Ten Second Star of the Week the first week of December after turning away 78 of 82 shots against Michigan, Nov. 30-Dec. 1. He has three games this season with at least 40 saves and eight with at least 30.
Dates | Times: Friday, Feb. 15 | 7 p.m. // Saturday, Feb. 16 | 7 p.m.
Location: Munn Ice Arena | East Lansing
Tickets: MSUSpartans.com
Promotions: Friday – Family 4 Pack // Saturday – 4 seats, 4 treats
Web Stream: BTN Plus on BTN2Go ($)
Radio: Spartan Sports Network | Local: WJIM-AM 1240
Game Notes: Michigan State | Penn State | Big Ten
Social Media: @MSU_Hockey
| Facebook | Instragram On The Fly...
• Michigan State hosts Penn State in its final regular-season home series of the season this weekend at Munn … With four games remaining, MSU has 24 points and is in sixth place, just four points out of third place as the third through sixth-place teams are separated by a total of just four points.
• Penn State, which swept Minnesota at home last weekend, is in fifth place with 26 points.
• The Spartans will honor their three seniors – Cody Milan, Brennan Sanford and Zach Osburn – prior to the start of Saturday's game at approximately 6:45 p.m.
• Junior Taro Hirose continues to lead the nation in both points (47), points per game (1.57), assists (32) and assists per game (1.07) … He leads the country - or is tied for the lead - in 10 different categories.
• Both Taro Hirose (6-10--16) and Mitchell Lewandowski (9-5--14) have points in nine of the last 10 games.
• Michigan State is the only team in the nation to have three players in the top 12 nationally in points in linemates Taro Hirose (15-32--47), Patrick Khodorenko (16-17--33) and Mitchell Lewandowski (15-18--33) … The KHL line has combined for 113 points (48% of the team total).
• Khodorenko and Lewandowski are both tied for 12th nationally in points, while Khodorenko ranks sixth in goals and Lewandowski 11th.
• With 113 points (33g, 80a) in 100 career games, Hirose's 1.13 points per game average is the highest among all Spartans that have hit the 100-point mark since 2000.
• Freshman Dennis Cesana leads all Big Ten freshmen in assists with 19, while he's tied for first in points among league rookies with 22 … Cesana has four assists over the last four games, including one in each game last weekend.
• Cesana's 22 points are the most by a Spartan freshman defenseman since Jeff Petry's 24 in 2007-08.
• The Spartans have extinguished 18-of-19 opponent power plays (.947) over the last five games.
• Since the beginning of January, the Spartans are averaging 3.33 goals per game, which ranks 17th over the span and is 0.43 above their season average.
About Penn State
After dropping four in a row, Penn State has won three straight games and is coming off a sweep of Minnesota (7-2, 6-2) last weekend at home … PSU leads the country in goals (131), goals per game (4.68) and shots on goal per game (39.68) … The Nittany Lions are sixth nationally in power-play percentage (.258) and are 45th in penalty killing (.781) … Penn State boasts the third and sixth-highest scoring players in the country in Evan Barratt (15-22--37) and Alex Limoges (16-20--36), respectively … Junior Peyton Jones has made 21 starts in goal, going 12-7-2 with a 3.28 GAA and .900 save percentage.
Against the Nittany Lions
Dating back to last season, MSU is 2-3-1 with a shootout win vs. the Nittany Lions … Taro Hirose is the Spartans' active leader in points against Penn State with 14, including six goals and eight assists, in 10 games … Mitchell Lewandowski has six points (3g, 3a) in six career meetings vs. PSU.
Hirose Continuing to Lead the Nation
Junior Taro Hirose has proven to be one of the most consistent offensive producers in the country and for the sixth straight week he leads the country in both points (47), points per game (1.57), assists (32) and assists per game (1.07). He has had multiple points in 14 of the Spartans' 30 games this season and dating back to the end of last season, he has points in 32 of the Spartans' last 39 games.
Hirose has points in all but six games this season, including in 18 of the last 21, and is coming off a career best nine-game point streak over which he had 16 points (6g, 10a).
Hirose has 14 multi-point games this season, which is tied for the most in the country, including an NCAA-best nine three-point games. MSU is 10-3-1 when Hirose records multiple points, and 7-1-1 when he has three points.
Still no. ☝️ in points & assists
— MSU_Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) February 12, 2019
✅ Give #HiroseforHobey your vote!https://t.co/J8QNR0eh1Q pic.twitter.com/YeMJbV7f7J
For Comparison's Sake…
Hirose's 47 points, which are the most by a Spartan since Jim Slater's 48 in 2004-05, are the same amount last year's Hobey Baker Award winner, Adam Gaudette, had through 30 games in 2017-18. Hirose also has three more assists (32) than any other player through 30 games last season.
Khodorenko's Scoring Touch
Patrick Khodorenko is having his best season for the Green and White with a career-high 16 goals and 33 points, which rank sixth and 12th, respectively, in the country. In the 12 games since the beginning of January, Khodorenko has 16 points (4g, 12a).
The native of Walnut Creek, California, who played for Danton Cole with the USNTDP has found a good amount of success on the power play as his seven goals on the man-advantage are tied for second in the Big Ten and are fifth most in the nation.
Khodorenko had four points vs. Wisconsin (Feb. 1-2), including two goals in the 4-1 win. On Jan. 4 vs. Ohio State he became the first Spartan since Greg Wolfe in 2011 to have four assists in a game. It was his second four-point game of the season as he was named the Big Ten First Star of the Week on Nov. 6 for the first time in his career after a hat trick and assist on Nov. 2 in a win over Ferris State.
Hirose On Pace With Elite Spartans
Taro Hirose's offensive pace is placing him with some of the best Spartan point-producers since 2000. With 113 points in 100 games, he became just 15th Spartan to hit the 100-point mark since 2000 (69th in program history).
Most impressively are Hirose's points and assists-per-game averages. Of the 15 Spartans to reach 100 career points since 2000, Hirose has the highest point-per-game average at 1.13, above even Jim Slater (1.1 points per game/172 career points) and Shawn Horcoff (0.98 points per game/152 career points).
With 80 total helpers, Hirose's 0.8 assist per game average is the highest of any Spartan that reached the 100 point mark since 2000. The 80 assists are the sixth most by a Spartan since 2000.
In his career (100 games), Hirose has more games with multiple points (31) than games without a point (28).
January Brings Goals
The Spartan offense has trended upward with the beginning of the new calendar year. The Spartans' 29 goals in January were tied for the fifth most in the country during the month, and their average of 3.62 during the month ranked ninth in the country and third in the Big Ten over the span.
MSU scored at least five goals in three straight games (Jan. 12-20) for the first time since Feb. 2008. Their 10 total goals in the sweep of Minnesota were their most in a series since an Oct. 2017 sweep of Lake Superior State (4-3, 6-0).
Currently, the Spartans are averaging 2.9 goals per game, which ranks 30th in the country and is 0.37 higher than their average from last season.
Cesana Leading B1G Rookies
Rookie Dennis Cesana has made a significant impact on the Spartan blue line this season as he leads all freshmen in the Big Ten with 19 assists, while he's tied for first in points among rookies with 22. He had an assist in each game last weekend and his 22 points are the most by a Spartan freshman defenseman since Jeff Petry's 24 in 2007-08.
The native of Providence, R.I., who led all defensemen in the AJHL in points (75) last season, has produced three three-point games since Dec. 30. Cesana had a goal and two assists against Lake Superior State in the GLI; scored the tying goal with 47 seconds to play - and added two helpers - in the 7-7 tie vs. Ohio State on January 4; and had three assist in the Jan. 19 5-3 win over Minnesota. He has 14 points (2g, 12a) over the last 14 games.
Lewandowski Heats Up
After being held without a point in the final three games of December, Mitchell Lewandowski has been on a hot streak with 17 points over of the last 12 games, since the beginning of January. His 10 goals over the stretch are tied for the most in the country since January began.
While his career long eight-game point streak came to an end last Friday, Lewandowski bounced back the following night with two goals, giving him 14 points (9g, 5a) over the last 10 games. On the season, his 33 points (15g, 18a) rank 12th in the NCAA and are one shy of his total from last season.
Last year's Big Ten Rookie of the Year was named the league's second star of the week on Jan. 22 after scoring two goals in both games of the sweep of Minnesota.
In B1G Play…
Taro Hirose leads the league in points (31), points per game (1.55), plus/minus (+13) and is tied for the lead in assists (21) … Mitchell Lewandowski is second in goals (12) and sixth in points (24) … Patrick Khodorenko is tied for third in points (25) and is tied with Hirose for fifth in goals (10) … Tommy Apap leads in faceoff wins (239) and his .593 faceoff winning percentage is third highest.
Rosburg Having a Career Best Season
After posting 11 points in each of his first two seasons, redshirt junior defenseman Jerad Rosburg has 14 (3g, 11a) this season, which is tied with Zach Osburn for the second most among Spartan blue liners. Six of Rosburg's points (1g, 5a) have come in the 12 games since the Beginning of January. He also leads the Spartans in blocked shots with 55.
Young on the Back End
For the second straight year, the Spartans have just one senior defenseman in Zach Osburn. While Osburn is the Spartans' active leader in games played at 135, he is surrounded by youth with three freshmen – Dennis Cesana, Cole Krygier and Christian Krygier – and a sophomore – Tommy Miller – in the regular playing group. Redshirt junior Jerad Rosburg has played in all 30 games, while junior Butrus Ghafari has played in 22.
College Hockey's Highest-Scoring Line
Since playing together in the first game of last season, Patrick Khodorenko (16-17--33), Taro Hirose (15-32--47) and Mitchell Lewandowski (15-18--33) have combined to form one of college hockey's most dangerous lines.
• The trio makes MSU the only team with three players in the top-12 nationally in points
• Has 15 (8g, 7a) of the Spartans' 29 total points over the last four games
• Combined for 113 of 235 (48%) of the Spartans' total points, up from 108 (44g, 64a) last season in 36 games … That's a combined 221 points in 66career games playing together (3.3/gm)
• Combined for a season-high 10 points on Jan. 4 vs. Ohio State
Khodorenko – 16 goals (T-6 NCAA), 33 points (T-12 NCAA) ... MSU's active career leader in goals (36) ... Ranked 12th in the Big Ten and third on the team in points (32) last season.
Hirose – Has led the nation in points (46) assists (31) since Jan. 5 … Has an NCAA-best nine game-winning points ... Has points in 32 of 39 games dating back to last season ... Has 14 multi-point games this season and 31 in his career ... Just the 15th Spartan since 2000 to hit the 100-career point mark (33-80--113) ... 2018 All-Big Ten second team … His 42 points last season were the most by a Spartan since Corey Tropp had the same number in 2009-10.
Lewandowski – Team leader with four game-winning goals and active leader with nine in his career ... 15 goals (T-11 NCAA), 33 points (T-12 NCAA) ... 2018 Big Ten Freshman of the Year and only unanimous selection to the Big Ten All-Freshman team … Led all rookies nationally in goals (19) and tied for the most in the Big Ten (among all players) during the regular season.
DeRidder the Nation's Youngest Goaltender
Freshman Drew DeRidder, the youngest goaltender in college hockey (DOB: 5/1/00), has made 16 starts this season, sporting a .910 save percentage and 3.12 GAA. DeRidder has started each of the last five games, which is the most consecutive starts for either Spartan goalie this year. He made 52 saves in the 2-2 tie vs. Wisconsin on Feb. 2, marking the first time a Spartan goaltender made at least 50 stops since Jeff Lerg in Jan. 2009.
The native of Fenton was named the Big Ten Second Star of the Week the first week of December after turning away 78 of 82 shots against Michigan, Nov. 30-Dec. 1. He has three games this season with at least 40 saves and eight with at least 30.
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