Neil’s Notebook: 2020 Begins at Home Against Minnesota
1/9/2020 9:17:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
By Neil Koepke
MSUSpartans.com staff writer
EAST LANSING – Michigan State has played every team in the Big Ten this season except one – Minnesota.
Three months into the season, the Spartans finally get their first look at the Gophers this weekend with their first series of 2020.
For the first time since the Big Ten started in 2013-14, MSU skates into the January portion of the schedule ahead of Minnesota in the conference standings.
The Spartans (10-9-1 overall) are tied for second place with Ohio State, each with 6-3-1-0 records and 19 points, while the Gophers (7-9-4 overall) are 2-4-4-3 and with 13 points and in fifth place in the Big Ten.
Michigan State and Minnesota meet at 6 p.m. Friday and 7 p.m. Saturday at Munn Arena. (Big Ten Network both nights).
Both teams will reach the half-way point in the Big Ten schedule this weekend with 12 games down and another 12 to go over the next seven weeks, with each team having a week off or playing a non-conference series or an exhibition game.
"Minnesota got off to a rough start but they've been playing well recently,'' MSU coach Danton Cole said. "They had two good games against Ohio State and they won their tournament over Christmas.
"They're feeling good. They have to make the same push as we do, so these should be great games. They usually are with Minnesota.''
With a veteran team last season, the Gophers finished third in the Big Ten but didn't make the NCAA Tournament. Michigan State won three of four games against Minnesota, including a 5-3, 5-3 sweep at Munn Arena.
But this year, the Gophers are the youngest (averaging 20 years, 240 days) in college hockey with as many as nine freshmen and seven sophomores in the lineup each night. Minnesota started the season 3-1 but then went 1-5-2, and 1-3-2 before winning two games in the Mariucci Classic, Dec. 28-29 – 5-2 over Bemidji State and 4-1 vs. St. Cloud State in the championship game.
The Spartans are 4-2 in their last six games, including a split in the Great Lakes Invitational last week – a 4-2 loss to Michigan Tech and a 5-2 victory over Ferris State.
Before the Mariucci Classic, the Gophers lost 3-2 in overtime and tied 1-1 at Ohio State and got swept by North Dakota, 9-3, 3-2, on Nov. 28-29.
"I've watched four or five of their games and they look good,'' Cole said. "They're moving the puck, they're attacking and they look like a Minnesota team.
"They've got good guys up front – Sammy Walker, Scott Reedy and Brandon McManus. They're going to attack, they're going to come at you and make plays, and we have to be ready for that.
"It's a lot like the rest of the Big Ten. It happens against Ohio State, it happens Michigan and Penn State and Wisconsin. It just never ends.''
Minnesota has always been known for its highly skilled and speedy forwards, mobile defensemen and an up-tempo, attack style offense. This year's Gophers still want to play that way but they've struggled with their identity in Coach Bob Motzko's second season.
With only four juniors and three seniors in the lineup, Minnesota has been a work in progress all season. But after 20 games, the Gophers are expecting to be much improved and more in sync in the second half of the season.
"With an experienced team, that can be good or bad when you come in as a new coach,'' Cole said. "Sometimes, the older guys' habits and concepts are so engrained, it's hard (to change). The new guys get on your page right away and when you cycle through it, it gets a little easier.
"I would assume Bob is getting to that point. He's a good coach and he's had success everywhere he's been. Now it's the second half and with young teams, you get better and better and more comfortable and stop thinking so much and just play.''
The Gophers have 14 players on their 27-man roster who are NHL draft picks.
Cole believes his Spartans will also be much better in the second half of the season with 14 Big Ten games left on the schedule – seven at home, six on the road and one (against Michigan) at Little Caesars Arena.
"I think our guys are on a bit of a mission. That doesn't guarantee that we're going to go 14-0 or anything like that. But I liked our mentality, and the way we came back (in the GLI),'' the Spartans coach said, referring to MSU's disappointing 4-2 loss to Michigan Tech in the GLI semifinals and the subsequent 5-2 victory over Ferris State in the third-place game.
"It's going to be a fun run here. They're not going to cheat us, they're not going to cheat the fans. They know there is something to play for and they're comfortable with that.
"They felt like they left something on the table in the GLI. Now, we have seven weeks of Big Ten hockey to make sure we don't leave anything on the table.''
After having 11 days off at the Christmas break and not playing last weekend, the Spartans are eager to get back into Big Ten play and improve on their solid conference record.
"The guys are looking good. We have a lot of energy. We had a tough one against Michigan Tech but bounced back against Ferris,'' senior center Patrick Khodorenko said. "I think we have a great opportunity against Minnesota.
"They're a good team, they're fast and they like to make a lot of plays. But I think we'll come up with a good game plan against them. We have to defend well. And not make any mistakes.''
THE RIVALRY: Minnesota leads the series 118-48-16, with the Gophers going 27-0-2 from the first game in 1926 and then from 1950-56. Michigan State has won the last three meetings – 4-2 in Minneapolis on Nov. 24, 2018, and 5-3 and 5-3 at Munn Arena, Jan. 19-20, 2019. But in the previous 35 games, Minnesota held a 21-4-10 edge.
MSU has played more games against Minnesota – 182 – than any other opponent except for Michigan (326). And its 16 tie games with the Gophers are second only to 24 with the Wolverines.
Two of MSU's biggest wins over the Gophers came in the NCAA Frozen Four in 1986 and 1987. The Spartans defeated Minnesota, 6-4, in the semifinals on March 27, 1986, en route to the national championship win over Harvard on March 29, 1986, in Providence. The next season, MSU upended the Gophers again, 5-3, on March 27, 1987, in Detroit.
SCOUTING THE GOPHERS: Minnesota has seven players with 10 points or more, with sophomore Sammy Walker leading with seven goals and six assists for 13 points. Freshman Ben Meyers is second with three goals and nine assists for 12 points. He's followed by four players with 11 points – junior Scott Reedy (9 goals, 2 assists), sophomore Sampo Ranta (7-4), junior Brannon McManus (4-7) and sophomore Blake McLaughlin (4-7). Senior defenseman Tyler Nanne has 10 points (3-7).
"They have a lot of talent up in that state. They have a lot of confidence, a lot of offensive skill and speed and that's their game,'' MSU senior defenseman Jerad Rosburg said. "I think they're starting to add a little grit. They move the puck well. It should be fun games.''
In addition to Nanne, the Gophers' defense includes freshmen Jackson Lacombe, Ryan Johnson and Matt Staudacher, sophomores Robbie Stucker and Ben Brinkman and senior Ryan Zuhlsdorf.
Minnesota lost all three goalies from last season and brought in two freshman and a junior transfer. Jack LaFontaine played two seasons at Michigan – 2016-18 – and then spent last season playing for Penticton of the British Columbia Junior Hockey League before joining the Gophers in the fall.
LaFontaine has played in 12 games, including starting the last four. He has a 4-5-1 record, a 2.85 goals-against average and a .908 saves percentage. Freshman Jared Moe is 3-4-1 in 10 games and has a 3.01 GAA and a .898 saves percentage.
Freshman Justin Close has appeared in three games but played only 29 minutes and 32 seconds in relief duty.
In his two seasons at Michigan, LaFontaine started two games against Michigan State. He lost his first game against the Spartans, 3-0, at Yost Arena, and he got no decision in his second start. He gave up one goal and played only 32 minutes before being replaced by Hayden Lavigne, who gave up three goals and took the loss, 4-1.
LaFontaine's third appearance against MSU was in relief of Lavigne as he played the third period of the Spartans' 5-0 victory at Munn Arena on Dec. 8, 2017.
Minnesota's best statistical attribute is with penalty killing. The Gophers are skating off 86.2 percent of opponents' power plays, ranking No. 12 in the nation and No. 1 in the Big Ten. The power play is converting at 18.5 percent (29th nationally).
In most seasons, the Gophers are one of the highest-scoring teams in the nation, averaging more than three goals per game and sometimes close to four. But thus far this season, Minnesota is averaging only 2.65 goals a game (33rd).
Defensively, the Gophers are averaging 3.15 goals against (43rd).
Minnesota may not have the offensive numbers like seasons past but the Spartans still believe the Gophers can post problems.
"They're fast and they transition well, and they're not afraid to make the extra pass,'' MSU center Patrick Khodorenko said. "They look to go back-door on the rush a lot. They've scored a few goals like that against us on the first shift. It's not something I like to remember.''
What the Spartans like to remember is their three victories against the Gophers last season, including a sweep in January at Munn Arena.
"Minnesota is a historically good program so whenever you get a sweep against them, it means a good amount,'' Rosburg said. "We're hoping to make (sweeps) regular around here, so it's not life-changing if you get a sweep.
"We've started to do that this year and hopefully we can continue that and make it happen again.''
For many years, the Gophers were made up of all Minnesota-born players, but that's changed a lot in recent seasons. First, Minnesota brought in players from other states – like North Dakota, Wisconsin, Colorado and, in the last few years, from Michigan. And then they sprinkled in a Canadian or two here and there and even a European.
This season, the Gophers are a melting pot. There are 19 players from Minnesota, two goalies from Canada, one player from Finland, two from California and one each from Wisconsin, Michigan and Arizona.
Coach Bob Motzko is in his second season with the Gophers after 13 years at St. Cloud State. He has a career record of 301-217-57. Motzko won his 300th game with a 5-2 win over Bemidji State in the Mariucci Classic semifinal, Dec. 27.
Motzko was an assistant coach at Minnesota under Don Lucia for four seasons and helped guide the Gophers to NCAA titles in 2002 and 2003. Motzko's record at Minnesota is 25-25-8.
MILESTONE APPROACHING: Patrick Khodorenko is two goals away from hitting the 50-goal mark for his career, and becoming the first Spartan to score 50 since Tim Crowder did it from 2005-09.
Khodorenko, the Spartans' top scorer and arguably their best player, has 10 goals and 10 assists for 20 points in 20 games this season and 48 goals and 59 assists for 107 points in 137 career games.
Each season, Khodorenko has improved his skills and overall game to the point where he's considered one of the best forwards in the Big Ten and the nation.
"What I really like about him is that he's gotten better and better every year in a lot of different aspects,'' MSU coach Danton Cole. "His hockey has continued to improve, and one thing we were talking about today is just how much better he's gotten as a leader.
"He was one of the better players in his first year here but he didn't get a lot of votes as a captain as a sophomore. And the same before his junior year. But this year, he got a ton. He's earned that. He's being much more vocal.
"I think that's going to lead him to having a better and better pro career … with his understanding of how good he is and how he can affect a team on the ice and how he can affect it off the ice. Those leadership things – it's a character thing and a confidence thing. All those are coming together for him.''
Khodorenko, 21, a 6-foot, 198-pounder from Walnut Creek, Calif., had seven goals and 18 points as a freshman, 13 goals and 32 points as a sophomore and a team-high 18 goals and 37 points last season, second only to linemate Taro Hirose (50 points), now in the Red Wings organization.
This season, he's stronger on the puck, he's winning battles along the boards and behind the net, and even talking on penalty-killing duties.
"He's been a horse for us. He gets tough defensive assignments, he kills penalties and he obviously drives our power play,'' Cole said. "We count on him to score goals. He's been kind of Mr. Everything for us.''
Khodorenko said he wasn't aware that he was approaching the 50-goal mark until asked about it during an interview. He said his focus this season has been on consistency and being more of a leader as a senior.
"I'm just trying to play my game, do the right things and, hopefully, the points will come,'' he said. "It's about helping my teammates become better players. And if we feed off each other, the points will come. I'm not really thinking about hitting a mark.
"I'm trying to be more consistent in my play, and lead by example and be a little more vocal, too. I've always been a quiet guy. But I'm trying to step up in the locker room and communicate with my teammates as much as I can, especially with some of the younger guys.''
Surprisingly, Khodorenko has never been drafted by an NHL team. He's sure to be a highly pursued free agent after his college career comes to an end.
"As much as I would have liked to have had Taro (Hirose) with us this year, with Taro leaving, Patty has assumed a lot of responsibilities and grown as a man and a player, and he's starting to thrive on that,'' Cole said.
"It's going to be fun to watch him play pro hockey.''
SPARTANS POTPOURRI: MSU's top two scorers – senior Patrick Khodorenko and junior linemate Mitchell Lewandowski – have seven points in their last five games. Khodorenko has four goals and three assists while Lewandowski has three goals and four assists. Khodorenko leads the Spartans with 10 goals and 10 assists for 20 points. Lewandowski has six goals and nine assists for 15 points.
Sophomore defenseman Dennis Cesana, who was voted to the Great Lakes Invitational's All-Tournament team, is third in team scoring with four goals and 10 assists for 14 points. Senior forward Logan Lambdin is fourth with 11 points (5-6). Senior forward Sam Saliba is tied for second in goals with Lewandowski with six…
Goalie John Lethemon starts 2020 ranked No. 7 in the nation in saves percentage at .938, which is No. 1 in the Big Ten. His four shutouts, including two in December, is tied for second nationally and No. 1 in the Big Ten. Lethemon has started the last 14 games. In 18 games and 16 starts, Lethemon has a 2.06 goals-against average, third in the Big Ten…
Michigan State is 7-4-1 since Nov. 14 and went 4-3-1 in December. The Spartans are No. 17 in the PairWise rankings and No. 20 in the USCHO top 20 poll…
The Spartans have skated off 27 of the last 29 opponents' power plays over the last eight games, good for a 93.1 percent penalty kill. In Big Ten play, MSU is No. 1 at 90.6 percent…
Michigan State is averaging 36 shots on goal over the last six games – 7.55 above its season average. The Spartans had 36 and 44 shots on goal against Wisconsin, 35 and 36 vs. Arizona State and 29 against Michigan Tech and 36 vs. Ferris State last week in the GLI.
IN THE BIG TEN: In addition to the MSU-Minnesota series, No. 8/7 Ohio State (13-5-2 overall, 6-3-1-0 Big Ten) is at Wisconsin (7-10-1, 2-7-1-1 and Michigan (7-11-2, 2-7-1-0) visits No. 14 Notre Dame (10-7-3, 5-3-2-1). Both are Friday-Saturday series.
First-place and No. 6/6 Penn State (15-6-0, 8-4-0-0) plays a non-conference game against Robert Morris on Saturday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh.
The Nittany Lions continue to lead the Big Ten in scoring with senior Nate Sucese and junior Evan Barratt ranking 1-2 in overall games. Sucese leads with eight goals and 16 assists for 24 points, with Barratt a point back at 23 – seven goals and 16 assists.
MSU's Patrick Khodorenko is in a four-way tie for third with 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists). He's tied with Penn State junior Alex Limoges (7-13), Wisconsin freshman Cole Caufield (12-8) and Ohio State senior Tanner Laczynski (7-13).
MSUSpartans.com staff writer
EAST LANSING – Michigan State has played every team in the Big Ten this season except one – Minnesota.
Three months into the season, the Spartans finally get their first look at the Gophers this weekend with their first series of 2020.
For the first time since the Big Ten started in 2013-14, MSU skates into the January portion of the schedule ahead of Minnesota in the conference standings.
The Spartans (10-9-1 overall) are tied for second place with Ohio State, each with 6-3-1-0 records and 19 points, while the Gophers (7-9-4 overall) are 2-4-4-3 and with 13 points and in fifth place in the Big Ten.
Michigan State and Minnesota meet at 6 p.m. Friday and 7 p.m. Saturday at Munn Arena. (Big Ten Network both nights).
Both teams will reach the half-way point in the Big Ten schedule this weekend with 12 games down and another 12 to go over the next seven weeks, with each team having a week off or playing a non-conference series or an exhibition game.
"Minnesota got off to a rough start but they've been playing well recently,'' MSU coach Danton Cole said. "They had two good games against Ohio State and they won their tournament over Christmas.
"They're feeling good. They have to make the same push as we do, so these should be great games. They usually are with Minnesota.''
With a veteran team last season, the Gophers finished third in the Big Ten but didn't make the NCAA Tournament. Michigan State won three of four games against Minnesota, including a 5-3, 5-3 sweep at Munn Arena.
But this year, the Gophers are the youngest (averaging 20 years, 240 days) in college hockey with as many as nine freshmen and seven sophomores in the lineup each night. Minnesota started the season 3-1 but then went 1-5-2, and 1-3-2 before winning two games in the Mariucci Classic, Dec. 28-29 – 5-2 over Bemidji State and 4-1 vs. St. Cloud State in the championship game.
The Spartans are 4-2 in their last six games, including a split in the Great Lakes Invitational last week – a 4-2 loss to Michigan Tech and a 5-2 victory over Ferris State.
Before the Mariucci Classic, the Gophers lost 3-2 in overtime and tied 1-1 at Ohio State and got swept by North Dakota, 9-3, 3-2, on Nov. 28-29.
"I've watched four or five of their games and they look good,'' Cole said. "They're moving the puck, they're attacking and they look like a Minnesota team.
"They've got good guys up front – Sammy Walker, Scott Reedy and Brandon McManus. They're going to attack, they're going to come at you and make plays, and we have to be ready for that.
"It's a lot like the rest of the Big Ten. It happens against Ohio State, it happens Michigan and Penn State and Wisconsin. It just never ends.''
Minnesota has always been known for its highly skilled and speedy forwards, mobile defensemen and an up-tempo, attack style offense. This year's Gophers still want to play that way but they've struggled with their identity in Coach Bob Motzko's second season.
With only four juniors and three seniors in the lineup, Minnesota has been a work in progress all season. But after 20 games, the Gophers are expecting to be much improved and more in sync in the second half of the season.
"With an experienced team, that can be good or bad when you come in as a new coach,'' Cole said. "Sometimes, the older guys' habits and concepts are so engrained, it's hard (to change). The new guys get on your page right away and when you cycle through it, it gets a little easier.
"I would assume Bob is getting to that point. He's a good coach and he's had success everywhere he's been. Now it's the second half and with young teams, you get better and better and more comfortable and stop thinking so much and just play.''
The Gophers have 14 players on their 27-man roster who are NHL draft picks.
Cole believes his Spartans will also be much better in the second half of the season with 14 Big Ten games left on the schedule – seven at home, six on the road and one (against Michigan) at Little Caesars Arena.
"I think our guys are on a bit of a mission. That doesn't guarantee that we're going to go 14-0 or anything like that. But I liked our mentality, and the way we came back (in the GLI),'' the Spartans coach said, referring to MSU's disappointing 4-2 loss to Michigan Tech in the GLI semifinals and the subsequent 5-2 victory over Ferris State in the third-place game.
"It's going to be a fun run here. They're not going to cheat us, they're not going to cheat the fans. They know there is something to play for and they're comfortable with that.
"They felt like they left something on the table in the GLI. Now, we have seven weeks of Big Ten hockey to make sure we don't leave anything on the table.''
After having 11 days off at the Christmas break and not playing last weekend, the Spartans are eager to get back into Big Ten play and improve on their solid conference record.
"The guys are looking good. We have a lot of energy. We had a tough one against Michigan Tech but bounced back against Ferris,'' senior center Patrick Khodorenko said. "I think we have a great opportunity against Minnesota.
"They're a good team, they're fast and they like to make a lot of plays. But I think we'll come up with a good game plan against them. We have to defend well. And not make any mistakes.''
THE RIVALRY: Minnesota leads the series 118-48-16, with the Gophers going 27-0-2 from the first game in 1926 and then from 1950-56. Michigan State has won the last three meetings – 4-2 in Minneapolis on Nov. 24, 2018, and 5-3 and 5-3 at Munn Arena, Jan. 19-20, 2019. But in the previous 35 games, Minnesota held a 21-4-10 edge.
MSU has played more games against Minnesota – 182 – than any other opponent except for Michigan (326). And its 16 tie games with the Gophers are second only to 24 with the Wolverines.
Two of MSU's biggest wins over the Gophers came in the NCAA Frozen Four in 1986 and 1987. The Spartans defeated Minnesota, 6-4, in the semifinals on March 27, 1986, en route to the national championship win over Harvard on March 29, 1986, in Providence. The next season, MSU upended the Gophers again, 5-3, on March 27, 1987, in Detroit.
SCOUTING THE GOPHERS: Minnesota has seven players with 10 points or more, with sophomore Sammy Walker leading with seven goals and six assists for 13 points. Freshman Ben Meyers is second with three goals and nine assists for 12 points. He's followed by four players with 11 points – junior Scott Reedy (9 goals, 2 assists), sophomore Sampo Ranta (7-4), junior Brannon McManus (4-7) and sophomore Blake McLaughlin (4-7). Senior defenseman Tyler Nanne has 10 points (3-7).
"They have a lot of talent up in that state. They have a lot of confidence, a lot of offensive skill and speed and that's their game,'' MSU senior defenseman Jerad Rosburg said. "I think they're starting to add a little grit. They move the puck well. It should be fun games.''
In addition to Nanne, the Gophers' defense includes freshmen Jackson Lacombe, Ryan Johnson and Matt Staudacher, sophomores Robbie Stucker and Ben Brinkman and senior Ryan Zuhlsdorf.
Minnesota lost all three goalies from last season and brought in two freshman and a junior transfer. Jack LaFontaine played two seasons at Michigan – 2016-18 – and then spent last season playing for Penticton of the British Columbia Junior Hockey League before joining the Gophers in the fall.
LaFontaine has played in 12 games, including starting the last four. He has a 4-5-1 record, a 2.85 goals-against average and a .908 saves percentage. Freshman Jared Moe is 3-4-1 in 10 games and has a 3.01 GAA and a .898 saves percentage.
Freshman Justin Close has appeared in three games but played only 29 minutes and 32 seconds in relief duty.
In his two seasons at Michigan, LaFontaine started two games against Michigan State. He lost his first game against the Spartans, 3-0, at Yost Arena, and he got no decision in his second start. He gave up one goal and played only 32 minutes before being replaced by Hayden Lavigne, who gave up three goals and took the loss, 4-1.
LaFontaine's third appearance against MSU was in relief of Lavigne as he played the third period of the Spartans' 5-0 victory at Munn Arena on Dec. 8, 2017.
Minnesota's best statistical attribute is with penalty killing. The Gophers are skating off 86.2 percent of opponents' power plays, ranking No. 12 in the nation and No. 1 in the Big Ten. The power play is converting at 18.5 percent (29th nationally).
In most seasons, the Gophers are one of the highest-scoring teams in the nation, averaging more than three goals per game and sometimes close to four. But thus far this season, Minnesota is averaging only 2.65 goals a game (33rd).
Defensively, the Gophers are averaging 3.15 goals against (43rd).
Minnesota may not have the offensive numbers like seasons past but the Spartans still believe the Gophers can post problems.
"They're fast and they transition well, and they're not afraid to make the extra pass,'' MSU center Patrick Khodorenko said. "They look to go back-door on the rush a lot. They've scored a few goals like that against us on the first shift. It's not something I like to remember.''
What the Spartans like to remember is their three victories against the Gophers last season, including a sweep in January at Munn Arena.
"Minnesota is a historically good program so whenever you get a sweep against them, it means a good amount,'' Rosburg said. "We're hoping to make (sweeps) regular around here, so it's not life-changing if you get a sweep.
"We've started to do that this year and hopefully we can continue that and make it happen again.''
For many years, the Gophers were made up of all Minnesota-born players, but that's changed a lot in recent seasons. First, Minnesota brought in players from other states – like North Dakota, Wisconsin, Colorado and, in the last few years, from Michigan. And then they sprinkled in a Canadian or two here and there and even a European.
This season, the Gophers are a melting pot. There are 19 players from Minnesota, two goalies from Canada, one player from Finland, two from California and one each from Wisconsin, Michigan and Arizona.
Coach Bob Motzko is in his second season with the Gophers after 13 years at St. Cloud State. He has a career record of 301-217-57. Motzko won his 300th game with a 5-2 win over Bemidji State in the Mariucci Classic semifinal, Dec. 27.
Motzko was an assistant coach at Minnesota under Don Lucia for four seasons and helped guide the Gophers to NCAA titles in 2002 and 2003. Motzko's record at Minnesota is 25-25-8.
MILESTONE APPROACHING: Patrick Khodorenko is two goals away from hitting the 50-goal mark for his career, and becoming the first Spartan to score 50 since Tim Crowder did it from 2005-09.
Khodorenko, the Spartans' top scorer and arguably their best player, has 10 goals and 10 assists for 20 points in 20 games this season and 48 goals and 59 assists for 107 points in 137 career games.
Each season, Khodorenko has improved his skills and overall game to the point where he's considered one of the best forwards in the Big Ten and the nation.
"What I really like about him is that he's gotten better and better every year in a lot of different aspects,'' MSU coach Danton Cole. "His hockey has continued to improve, and one thing we were talking about today is just how much better he's gotten as a leader.
"He was one of the better players in his first year here but he didn't get a lot of votes as a captain as a sophomore. And the same before his junior year. But this year, he got a ton. He's earned that. He's being much more vocal.
"I think that's going to lead him to having a better and better pro career … with his understanding of how good he is and how he can affect a team on the ice and how he can affect it off the ice. Those leadership things – it's a character thing and a confidence thing. All those are coming together for him.''
Khodorenko, 21, a 6-foot, 198-pounder from Walnut Creek, Calif., had seven goals and 18 points as a freshman, 13 goals and 32 points as a sophomore and a team-high 18 goals and 37 points last season, second only to linemate Taro Hirose (50 points), now in the Red Wings organization.
This season, he's stronger on the puck, he's winning battles along the boards and behind the net, and even talking on penalty-killing duties.
"He's been a horse for us. He gets tough defensive assignments, he kills penalties and he obviously drives our power play,'' Cole said. "We count on him to score goals. He's been kind of Mr. Everything for us.''
Khodorenko said he wasn't aware that he was approaching the 50-goal mark until asked about it during an interview. He said his focus this season has been on consistency and being more of a leader as a senior.
"I'm just trying to play my game, do the right things and, hopefully, the points will come,'' he said. "It's about helping my teammates become better players. And if we feed off each other, the points will come. I'm not really thinking about hitting a mark.
"I'm trying to be more consistent in my play, and lead by example and be a little more vocal, too. I've always been a quiet guy. But I'm trying to step up in the locker room and communicate with my teammates as much as I can, especially with some of the younger guys.''
Surprisingly, Khodorenko has never been drafted by an NHL team. He's sure to be a highly pursued free agent after his college career comes to an end.
"As much as I would have liked to have had Taro (Hirose) with us this year, with Taro leaving, Patty has assumed a lot of responsibilities and grown as a man and a player, and he's starting to thrive on that,'' Cole said.
"It's going to be fun to watch him play pro hockey.''
SPARTANS POTPOURRI: MSU's top two scorers – senior Patrick Khodorenko and junior linemate Mitchell Lewandowski – have seven points in their last five games. Khodorenko has four goals and three assists while Lewandowski has three goals and four assists. Khodorenko leads the Spartans with 10 goals and 10 assists for 20 points. Lewandowski has six goals and nine assists for 15 points.
Sophomore defenseman Dennis Cesana, who was voted to the Great Lakes Invitational's All-Tournament team, is third in team scoring with four goals and 10 assists for 14 points. Senior forward Logan Lambdin is fourth with 11 points (5-6). Senior forward Sam Saliba is tied for second in goals with Lewandowski with six…
Goalie John Lethemon starts 2020 ranked No. 7 in the nation in saves percentage at .938, which is No. 1 in the Big Ten. His four shutouts, including two in December, is tied for second nationally and No. 1 in the Big Ten. Lethemon has started the last 14 games. In 18 games and 16 starts, Lethemon has a 2.06 goals-against average, third in the Big Ten…
Michigan State is 7-4-1 since Nov. 14 and went 4-3-1 in December. The Spartans are No. 17 in the PairWise rankings and No. 20 in the USCHO top 20 poll…
The Spartans have skated off 27 of the last 29 opponents' power plays over the last eight games, good for a 93.1 percent penalty kill. In Big Ten play, MSU is No. 1 at 90.6 percent…
Michigan State is averaging 36 shots on goal over the last six games – 7.55 above its season average. The Spartans had 36 and 44 shots on goal against Wisconsin, 35 and 36 vs. Arizona State and 29 against Michigan Tech and 36 vs. Ferris State last week in the GLI.
IN THE BIG TEN: In addition to the MSU-Minnesota series, No. 8/7 Ohio State (13-5-2 overall, 6-3-1-0 Big Ten) is at Wisconsin (7-10-1, 2-7-1-1 and Michigan (7-11-2, 2-7-1-0) visits No. 14 Notre Dame (10-7-3, 5-3-2-1). Both are Friday-Saturday series.
First-place and No. 6/6 Penn State (15-6-0, 8-4-0-0) plays a non-conference game against Robert Morris on Saturday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh.
The Nittany Lions continue to lead the Big Ten in scoring with senior Nate Sucese and junior Evan Barratt ranking 1-2 in overall games. Sucese leads with eight goals and 16 assists for 24 points, with Barratt a point back at 23 – seven goals and 16 assists.
MSU's Patrick Khodorenko is in a four-way tie for third with 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists). He's tied with Penn State junior Alex Limoges (7-13), Wisconsin freshman Cole Caufield (12-8) and Ohio State senior Tanner Laczynski (7-13).
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