Neil’s Notebook: A Night of Firsts For Spartans in 2-0 Shutout Win

By Neil Koepke
MSUSpartans.com staff writer

EAST LANSING – It was a night of firsts for Michigan State on Friday at Munn Arena.

And positives firsts, for sure:

The Spartans won their first game of the season.
Goalie Drew DeRidder, a junior, earned the first shutout of his career.
Mitchell Mattson, also a junior, scored his first goal as a Spartan and it proved to be the game-winner.
Mitchell Lewandowski, a senior and MSU's top returning goal-scorer, got his first goal of the season late in the third period to seal a victory.
And a pair of freshmen forwards – Kyle Haskins and Kristof Papp – each made strong plays to set up goals and drew assists for their first collegiate points.

Mattson scored at 7:36 of the first period, Lewandowski found the net at 12:28 of the third and DeRidder had a strong outing with 30 saves as MSU defeated Arizona State 2-0 in the second game of a non-conference series.

The teams played to a 1-1 tie on Thursday so the Spartans came out of their season-opening opening series unbeaten at 1-0-1. The Sun Devils, who played both games without top goal-scorer Johnny Walker due to an injury, are now 0-3-1.

Perhaps the tone Friday was set in the first period when MSU skated off three Sun Devils power plays, including an early 5-on-3 for 1 minute and 36 seconds. ASU managed only two shots on goal.

"I liked what I saw. I liked the reaction tonight based on how we played last night,'' MSU coach Danton Cole. "There were a lot of good things. We drove the net, did a better job in the offensive zone and ended up with 17 shots in the third period and we were still pushing.

"I'm not a big fan of giving up 16 shots in the third, but we did a lot of things better. Our young guys did a nice job tonight. They made a nice step and got a good feel for college hockey.''

DeRidder, 5-foot-11, 175-pound junior from Fenton, had one of his best games as a Spartan with several key saves, and he was helped out by his teammates – defensemen and forwards – with a strong defensive game.

"It was a great game all around. The first shutout is great and the way we came together,'' DeRidder said. "Everyone chipped in. It's not just me.

"I thought we played a great defensive game. Not sure what the shots were but it was a good number – not too high and I'm still getting quite a bit of action.''

MSU outshot the visitors, 40-30.

DeRidder stopped eight shots in the first period and only six in the second but things got more hectic in the third when he made 16 saves, including a few huge stops, to preserve the victory and the shutout.

"You're always going to have a couple of breakdowns,'' he said. "They had a broken 2-on-0 breakaway when we were on a power play (in the first period) but stuff like that is going to happen, and I need to make those big saves. Other than that, our defense didn't give up too many quality chances.''

Friday's victory was DeRidder's first as a Spartan since his freshman season when he made 27 saves in a 4-1 win over Wisconsin on Feb. 1, 2019, at Munn Arena. He played in only four games last year while serving as the backup to senior John Lethemon.

"Drew was outstanding. He gave up one goal all weekend,'' Cole said. "I'm really happy for him. He's a battler. He was ticked off about giving up a late one (on Thursday) and he was pretty determined not to do that tonight.''

ASU's late goal on Thursday came after a defensive zone mistake and a tough bounce in front which led to Chris Grando firing the puck into the right corner to tie the game, 1-1, with 4:14 left in the third period.

Although the goal wasn't DeRidder's fault, he still felt he could have played it better.

"That's tough when you're up 1-0. You love to have those games when it's 1-0 or 2-0 and you keep your team in the game and end up winning and getting the shutout,'' he said. "I was ticked off. But everybody makes mistakes. Somebody has to make a mistake before it gets to me and I ended up making the last mistake.

"It's frustrating but it happens. I probably could have been further out of the net. I think that's a little to blame on the fact we haven't played any games in a while.''

There were no mistakes in DeRidder's game on Friday and only a few were made in front of him. And when there were, the Spartan goaltender was there to frustrate the Sun Devils.

"I thought I was really calm in the net and handled most of the rebounds well,'' he said. "Everything that came into my pads, I put in a good area in front of me or off to the side, with the exception of the one in the third period with 5-7 minutes left when I had to slide back to my left (to make the save).

"I think my biggest strength right now is my composure and just keeping calm when stuff gets hectic around me.''

After playing 17 games as a freshman and only four last season, DeRidder is focused on lifting his game to a high level and consistency as he tries to claim the starting job. He's competing with freshman Pierce Charleson, who played the last two seasons in the Alberta Junior Hockey League with the Brooks Bandits.

"I think Pierce is a good goalie. It's the same kind of thing I had the past two years with Lethemon,'' DeRidder said. "My freshman year, we pushed each other and both played an even amount of games. Last year, he had a good start and kept it going and I was right behind him pushing the whole way.

"It's the same this year. Pierce is a really good goalie and an unreal kid. It's a battle every day to see who's better and who can come out on top.''

Michigan State's offense perked up on Friday with 40 shots on ASU goalie Evan DeBrouwer, and a lot more quality scoring chances
after having only 26 shots on net and not many good opportunities from in close in Thursday's 1-1 tie.

The Spartans' fourth line of Mattson centering left wing Adam Goodsir and freshman right wing Kyle Haskins had several good scoring chances and combined for eight shots. Mattson had five shots and scored one goal, Haskins had two shots on net and Goodsir one.

"It's really important,'' Cole said of the Spartans checking line's solid game in creating offense. "It's good for them and that gives them more ice time and it allows the guys who have to keep going out there to keep it under 20 minutes (of ice time a game). If they can give us 12-13 minutes, it really helps.

"Mattson, Goodsir and (Nicolas) Müller did a nice job at the end of last year, and that line (with Haskins now on it in place of Mueller) struggled a bit on Thursday but they found their sea legs a little tonight,'' Cole said. "Haskins was really driving, he played with speed on the other side of the defense and he'll be able to that for us.''

MSU's other lines had nine, eight and eights shots on goal. Josh Nodler (1), freshman A.J. Hodgins (4) and grad-transfer Charlie Combs (4) combined for nine shots. Freshman Kristof Papp (2), Mueller (2) and Lewandowski (4) had eight, as did the unit of Tommy Apap (2), Jagger Joshua (5) and Brody Stevens (1).

The Spartans' breakouts were better and their play in the offensive zone was a bright spot for Cole, who was happy to see Mattson and Lewandowski find the net and for the new forwards to show some offensive flair.

"A guy like Mattson getting a goal – there's a guy who scored a lot of goals before he got here – and it's his junior year and he gets one and that can mean a lot for his confidence,'' the MSU coach said. "I liked Lewie all weekend and I was glad he got one. Just to get back (to scoring) because he's a goal scorer.

"Charlie Combs was dangerous all weekend as well. If he gets this many chances, he'll have two, three or even four goals on a weekend. We have freshmen in important spots and they're going to get things done.''

So, it's one series down and plenty of challenges ahead in the four series remaining through December.

"Everything is positive,'' Cole said. "We'll take a break tomorrow but we have a sign (on a wall) heading out to the rink that says 'Outwork Yesterday.' And that can't change.''

MATTSON'S FIRST: Mitchell Mattson's first goal of his Spartan career turned out to be a game-winner and one to celebrate in a big way. Mattson, a junior center, found himself all alone in front of the net and in an instant, he took a pass from Adam Goodsir and rifled the puck past ASU goaltender Evan DeBrouwer to give MSU a 1-0 lead just 7:36 into the first period.

"I was pretty happy. It was nice to get that one,'' said Mattson, a 6-4, 205-pounder from Grand Rapids, Minnesota. "Its nice to get the monkey off my back for sure, and I hope to keep building on it. If I score, that's great but at the end of the day, I just want to help the team.

"And, hopefully, our line can continue to gain trust from coach and we'll be put in more situations like that where I have a chance to score.''

For sure, the more goals the Spartans can get by more people the better their chances of winning. Balance makes a difference.

"It was good play by Goody and Kyle Haskins made a good play to take it behind the net and then Goody went back there and threw it out front,'' Mattson said of his goal. "They didn't have any defense there and I got it and went five-hole on (the goaltender).''

Mattson, a fifth-round pick of the Calgary Flames in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, played in only 14 games as a freshman and did not get a point. He found his way into the lineup more last season, playing in 22 games and had one assist in a checking role.

This season, he's back together with Goodsir and joined by Haskins.

On Friday, the trio had an excellent game and created several other quality scoring chances besides their first-period goal.

"Building off last season, our role is to be a hard line to play against – be good down low, good defensively and responsible overall,'' Mattson said. "That's what coach expects from us. And we expect it from ourselves.''

LEWANDOWSKI'S FIRST: In the third period and Spartans clinging to a 1-0 lead, just like the situation they were in on Thursday, MSU was focused on getting the next goal to take some pressure off, and being responsible defensively.

As the clocked ticked down, the Spartans and Sun Devils both worked to find an opening to get a crucial goal. Finally, Michigan State made a nice play from the blue line near the left point and senior Mitchell Lewandowski finished it with a nice backhander into the left corner to give his team a much-needed 2-0 lead with 7:32 left.

Linemates Kristof Papp and Nicolas Müller assisted.

"I remember coming back on the backcheck and they turned the puck over and Kristof got a stick on it and chipped it and I knew we were going to turn it up and go right away,'' Lewandowski said. "I tried to get it back to him and he made nice play to get it on net, and I was fortunate to be in the right spot at the right time.''

DeBrouwer made the save on Papp but the puck came loose in front. Lewandowski gobbled it up and went forehand-to-backhand and slid the puck into the net.

"I like our resilience. Our commitment to the group is so strong,'' said Lewandowski, now serving as an assistant captain. "Everyone wants the same thing and works every day. It's a good group.''

UP NEXT FOR MSU: The Spartans have the next seven days off before opening Big Ten play at No. 9/10 Ohio State next Saturday and Sunday. The Buckeyes play their first series of the season at Minnesota on Monday and Tuesday. Then four days later, they'll be facing Michigan State in their first series at home.

Michigan State vs. Arizona State, Nov. 19

Michigan State vs. Arizona State, Nov. 19

IN THE BIG TEN: No. 11/11 Minnesota completed a sweep of No. 10/9 Penn State with a 3-2 victory on Friday in Minneapolis. The Gophers (2-0 overall, 2-0 Big Ten) held a 2-1 lead after one period, went up 3-1 in the second, and after the Nittany Lions (0-2, 0-2) made it 3-2 early in the third period, Minnesota held on for its second-straight win. The Gophers won the series opener on Thursday, 4-1.

No. 6/6 Michigan and Wisconsin were deadlocked 1-1 after three periods on Friday but the Wolverines pulled out a 3-on-3 overtime win when freshman Thomas Bordeleau scored with 26.6 seconds left to give U-M a series sweep. The Wolverines won the series opener, 5-2, on Thursday.

The OT decision goes down as a regular victory in Michigan's overall record but it only counts as two points and not three in conference play under the Big Ten's new points format.

Since the Big Ten went to a shootout to decide conference games, overtime wins were worth three points and OT losses were worth no points. A shootout win gave a team two points while the losing team got one. But now as games enter overtime, both teams will get at least get one point while the winner earns two.

So, if a Big Ten team sweeps a series in regulation time, it would get six points. But if a team wins one game in regulation and one in overtime, it'll come away with five points – three for the three-period win and two for the OT victory.

Basically, a victory in overtime or a shootout are worth the same – two points. And a loss in OT or in the shootout earns one point.