Photo by: Michael Caples
Neil’s Notebook: Spartans Can’t Solve Michigan in Loss on Monday
2/18/2020 9:33:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
By Neil Koepke
MSUSpartans.com staff writer
DETROIT – Michigan State played a lot better against Michigan on Monday night at Little Caesars Arena than it did on Friday night at Munn Arena.
But it still wasn't enough to defeat the red-hot, opportunistic Wolverines, who are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games.
U-M scored two power-play goals and got solid goaltending from Strauss Mann and cruised to a 4-1 victory in the annual Duel in the D in front of an announced crowd of 8,455.
The Spartans had 80 attempted shots, 32 landed on goal and Michigan was credited with 30 blocks. Both are amazing numbers.
"I thought our guys worked a lot. We were better than we were on Friday,'' MSU coach Danton Cole said. "Give Michigan credit, they played well on Friday and we didn't. Tonight, we played a pretty hard game and did a lot of good things.
"We got one by (Mann) and couldn't get more. They were able to pop a couple in – a couple of tips.''
The two teams were tied 1-1 with five minutes left in the first period when Michigan clicked on its first power play – a redirection by Jacob Hayhurst – to take the lead for good.
U-M scored early in the second period and early in the final period to boost its win streak to four straight.
Not only did the win give the Wolverines (15-12-3 overall, 10-8-2 Big Ten) a sweep of the Big Ten series, which started with a 5-1 triumph on Friday, it lifted Michigan over the Spartans (14-15-1, 10-9-1) and Ohio State and into sole possession of third place in the conference standings with 33 points.
MSU and the Buckeyes are tied for fourth place with 31 points.
"You never want to lose to Michigan. It's rivalry game every time you play,'' junior center and co-captain Tommy Apap said. "There were big stakes on the line so that makes it tougher.
"It's a tough one to swallow. But we have Ohio State coming up. You look at the playoff picture and we're just going to look forward.''
In another crucial series, the Spartans play host to the No. 12/12 Buckeyes at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Munn Arena. Saturday is Senior Night.
First place in the Big Ten is still possible for MSU, which is five points behind co-leaders Minnesota and Penn State, but it'll be difficult to attain.
However, a top-four finish and home ice for the first round of the playoffs is still in sight if the Spartans can win at least two or three games in their final four regular season contests.
"We're not just looking at stopping at home ice in the playoffs,'' Apap said. "We don't have a limit to our goals. We're looking to being in the (NCAA) Tournament and raise a banner. The goal right now is to get home ice. There are four games left and were going to do one at a time, looking to win each one.''
After Michigan's Will Lockwood opened the scoring on a quick break-in on the right side, beating MSU goalie John Lethemon (17 saves) from the right circle at 5:07 of the first period, the Spartans tied it just 1:08 later.
Defenseman Dennis Cesana took a perfect cross-ice pass from Adam Goodsir in close and fired it into the wide-open right corner.
But the Wolverines took a 2-1 lead on Jacob Hayhurst's power-play goal at 14:46.
The Spartans were eager to come out for the second period and get back in the game, but Michigan capitalized on another power play to go up 3-1. Nick Blankenburg's shot from the point in the middle caught the left corner of the net at 2:50.
Michigan State had two great chances to cut U-M's lead to 3-2 late in the period.
With 6:20 left, Brody Stevens' quick shot from the edge of the crease was rejected by a left pad save by Mann.
And then with 3:08 remaining in the period and the Spartans on a power play, they had no puck luck on their second-best opportunity of the night.
Freshman forward Josh Nodler had a good look from the left of the net and his shot hit the left post with Mann sprawled in the crease. The puck caromed off the post, hit Mann in the facemask, bounced to the right and hit the right post and lay on the goal line.
But U-M's Nolan Moyle reached in with his stick and pulled it back, out of danger, preserving his team's two-goal lead.
It was 3-1 entering the third period but not for long. Once again, puck luck lived with the Wolverines.
Defenseman Griffin Luce's shot from the left point went off Lockwood's stick deep in the slot and it changed directions and slid between his legs and under Lethemon's pads and just dribbled over the goal line 58 seconds into the period.
It didn't help that Lockwood and Hayhurst were wide open in front when Luce shot the puck.
Michigan State has lost three of its last four games and four of its last five and is under .500 for the first time since Nov. 15.
"I think we have to get back to what we were doing earlier in the year that made us so good,'' said Cesana, who has six goals this season. "It's just playing hard and being predictable for each other. Just being more clean with our execution on plays.
"It's not that we're not working hard. I think we worked really hard tonight. The bounces didn't go our way and they had two power-play goals and we didn't. We just have to clean it up a little.''
The Spartans were 0-for-2 on the power play – one late in the first period and another late in the second period.
"These guys lay a lot on the line. They did a great job (in practice) on Saturday and Sunday and came down here and played hard,'' Cole said. "Sometimes, it goes the wrong way.
"They bounced back (from Friday's performance). They're proud guys, love this group and we'll be working well on Friday night. It's tough though. This time of year, getting swept, isn't ideal. We are what we are and we'll keep going.''
Michigan played solid defense for most of the first period and part of the second, and most of MSU's shots came from the point or the perimeter on the wings. The shots were either blocked, went wide or ended up as an easy save for Mann. In the second period, the Spartans got better looks and tested Mann.
"They got in lanes well,'' Apap said. "Sometimes we weren't shooting the puck quick enough. We were toe-dragging or holding onto the puck too long. We've got to get quicker with our releases and get guys to the net quicker.''
MSU and U-M ended up splitting their four-game season series. The Spartans swept the Wolverines in mid-November, winning 4-3 in Ann Arbor and 3-0 at Munn Arena.
But U-M is a much different team than the one that started Big Ten play 0-6-1 and were 6-10-2 overall at Christmas.
"They're playing well. They're moving the puck, getting pucks on net,'' Cole said. "Their power play was good tonight. They're goaltending has been good. Defensively, they were really good in the first half, and now, up and down their lineup, they're getting scoring.
"When we play well, we get contributions from a lot of different guys.''
The Spartans have been swept three times this season and now twice in the Big Ten. They lost both games in a non-conference series against Cornell, Nov. 1-2, and at Ohio State, Nov. 30-Dec. 1.
UP NEXT: The Spartans play their final regular-season home series this weekend against Ohio State. MSU and OSU meet at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Munn Arena.
The Buckeyes, who were off last weekend, are tied with MSU with 31 points with four games to play for each team. Ohio State is 4-6-2 since the start of 2020 and 3-5-2 in its last 10 Big Ten games.
While Michigan State wraps up the regular season at Notre Dame, Feb. 28-29, Ohio State finishes with a home series against Wisconsin that weekend.
THE WOLVERINES' VIEW: Coach Mel Pearson was happy with the victory but didn't think it was on his team's better games.
"I thought we were fortunate tonight. I didn't think that was one of our better efforts. But we found a way to win the game,'' Pearson said. "Strauss Mann was really good. He got a little help on a bounce there in the second period.
"We had timely scoring. I give Michigan State credit. They played with that urgency. They just couldn't buy a goal. One of the keys, not only for the weekend but this game, was that we played with the lead.
"They're a tough team to play against when you get behind on them.''
Michigan blocked 30 shots, led by senior defenseman Griffin Luce and freshman defenseman Cam York with six apiece.
IN THE BIG TEN: In the battle of first-place teams this weekend, No. 18 Minnesota is at No. 11/10 Penn State on Friday and Saturday. Both teams have 36 points.
While the Gophers, 9-2-1 in their last 12 games, have four games remaining, the Nittany Lions are playing their last two games in Big Ten play.
Penn State is 3-4-3 in its last 10 games, and is coming off a split at Wisconsin – a 4-3 loss and a 3-2 victory.
Next weekend – Feb. 28-29 – Penn State has a bye while Minnesota hosts Michigan.
In this week's other series, sixth-place Notre Dame is at Michigan. The Wolverines swept the Irish, 3-0 and 3-1, at Notre Dame in early January. Notre Dame is 2-5-3 in its last 10 Big Ten games.
Wisconsin, which is locked in to seventh (last) place with 20 points, plays a non-conference series Friday and Saturday at home against No. 9/9 Arizona State. The Badgers, who will play the second-place finisher in the first round of the playoffs, closes out the regular season at Ohio State, Feb. 28-29.
MSUSpartans.com staff writer
DETROIT – Michigan State played a lot better against Michigan on Monday night at Little Caesars Arena than it did on Friday night at Munn Arena.
But it still wasn't enough to defeat the red-hot, opportunistic Wolverines, who are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games.
U-M scored two power-play goals and got solid goaltending from Strauss Mann and cruised to a 4-1 victory in the annual Duel in the D in front of an announced crowd of 8,455.
The Spartans had 80 attempted shots, 32 landed on goal and Michigan was credited with 30 blocks. Both are amazing numbers.
"I thought our guys worked a lot. We were better than we were on Friday,'' MSU coach Danton Cole said. "Give Michigan credit, they played well on Friday and we didn't. Tonight, we played a pretty hard game and did a lot of good things.
"We got one by (Mann) and couldn't get more. They were able to pop a couple in – a couple of tips.''
The two teams were tied 1-1 with five minutes left in the first period when Michigan clicked on its first power play – a redirection by Jacob Hayhurst – to take the lead for good.
U-M scored early in the second period and early in the final period to boost its win streak to four straight.
Not only did the win give the Wolverines (15-12-3 overall, 10-8-2 Big Ten) a sweep of the Big Ten series, which started with a 5-1 triumph on Friday, it lifted Michigan over the Spartans (14-15-1, 10-9-1) and Ohio State and into sole possession of third place in the conference standings with 33 points.
MSU and the Buckeyes are tied for fourth place with 31 points.
"You never want to lose to Michigan. It's rivalry game every time you play,'' junior center and co-captain Tommy Apap said. "There were big stakes on the line so that makes it tougher.
"It's a tough one to swallow. But we have Ohio State coming up. You look at the playoff picture and we're just going to look forward.''
In another crucial series, the Spartans play host to the No. 12/12 Buckeyes at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Munn Arena. Saturday is Senior Night.
First place in the Big Ten is still possible for MSU, which is five points behind co-leaders Minnesota and Penn State, but it'll be difficult to attain.
However, a top-four finish and home ice for the first round of the playoffs is still in sight if the Spartans can win at least two or three games in their final four regular season contests.
"We're not just looking at stopping at home ice in the playoffs,'' Apap said. "We don't have a limit to our goals. We're looking to being in the (NCAA) Tournament and raise a banner. The goal right now is to get home ice. There are four games left and were going to do one at a time, looking to win each one.''
After Michigan's Will Lockwood opened the scoring on a quick break-in on the right side, beating MSU goalie John Lethemon (17 saves) from the right circle at 5:07 of the first period, the Spartans tied it just 1:08 later.
Defenseman Dennis Cesana took a perfect cross-ice pass from Adam Goodsir in close and fired it into the wide-open right corner.
But the Wolverines took a 2-1 lead on Jacob Hayhurst's power-play goal at 14:46.
The Spartans were eager to come out for the second period and get back in the game, but Michigan capitalized on another power play to go up 3-1. Nick Blankenburg's shot from the point in the middle caught the left corner of the net at 2:50.
Michigan State had two great chances to cut U-M's lead to 3-2 late in the period.
With 6:20 left, Brody Stevens' quick shot from the edge of the crease was rejected by a left pad save by Mann.
And then with 3:08 remaining in the period and the Spartans on a power play, they had no puck luck on their second-best opportunity of the night.
Freshman forward Josh Nodler had a good look from the left of the net and his shot hit the left post with Mann sprawled in the crease. The puck caromed off the post, hit Mann in the facemask, bounced to the right and hit the right post and lay on the goal line.
But U-M's Nolan Moyle reached in with his stick and pulled it back, out of danger, preserving his team's two-goal lead.
It was 3-1 entering the third period but not for long. Once again, puck luck lived with the Wolverines.
Defenseman Griffin Luce's shot from the left point went off Lockwood's stick deep in the slot and it changed directions and slid between his legs and under Lethemon's pads and just dribbled over the goal line 58 seconds into the period.
It didn't help that Lockwood and Hayhurst were wide open in front when Luce shot the puck.
Michigan State has lost three of its last four games and four of its last five and is under .500 for the first time since Nov. 15.
"I think we have to get back to what we were doing earlier in the year that made us so good,'' said Cesana, who has six goals this season. "It's just playing hard and being predictable for each other. Just being more clean with our execution on plays.
"It's not that we're not working hard. I think we worked really hard tonight. The bounces didn't go our way and they had two power-play goals and we didn't. We just have to clean it up a little.''
The Spartans were 0-for-2 on the power play – one late in the first period and another late in the second period.
"These guys lay a lot on the line. They did a great job (in practice) on Saturday and Sunday and came down here and played hard,'' Cole said. "Sometimes, it goes the wrong way.
"They bounced back (from Friday's performance). They're proud guys, love this group and we'll be working well on Friday night. It's tough though. This time of year, getting swept, isn't ideal. We are what we are and we'll keep going.''
Michigan played solid defense for most of the first period and part of the second, and most of MSU's shots came from the point or the perimeter on the wings. The shots were either blocked, went wide or ended up as an easy save for Mann. In the second period, the Spartans got better looks and tested Mann.
"They got in lanes well,'' Apap said. "Sometimes we weren't shooting the puck quick enough. We were toe-dragging or holding onto the puck too long. We've got to get quicker with our releases and get guys to the net quicker.''
MSU and U-M ended up splitting their four-game season series. The Spartans swept the Wolverines in mid-November, winning 4-3 in Ann Arbor and 3-0 at Munn Arena.
But U-M is a much different team than the one that started Big Ten play 0-6-1 and were 6-10-2 overall at Christmas.
"They're playing well. They're moving the puck, getting pucks on net,'' Cole said. "Their power play was good tonight. They're goaltending has been good. Defensively, they were really good in the first half, and now, up and down their lineup, they're getting scoring.
"When we play well, we get contributions from a lot of different guys.''
The Spartans have been swept three times this season and now twice in the Big Ten. They lost both games in a non-conference series against Cornell, Nov. 1-2, and at Ohio State, Nov. 30-Dec. 1.
UP NEXT: The Spartans play their final regular-season home series this weekend against Ohio State. MSU and OSU meet at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Munn Arena.
The Buckeyes, who were off last weekend, are tied with MSU with 31 points with four games to play for each team. Ohio State is 4-6-2 since the start of 2020 and 3-5-2 in its last 10 Big Ten games.
While Michigan State wraps up the regular season at Notre Dame, Feb. 28-29, Ohio State finishes with a home series against Wisconsin that weekend.
THE WOLVERINES' VIEW: Coach Mel Pearson was happy with the victory but didn't think it was on his team's better games.
"I thought we were fortunate tonight. I didn't think that was one of our better efforts. But we found a way to win the game,'' Pearson said. "Strauss Mann was really good. He got a little help on a bounce there in the second period.
"We had timely scoring. I give Michigan State credit. They played with that urgency. They just couldn't buy a goal. One of the keys, not only for the weekend but this game, was that we played with the lead.
"They're a tough team to play against when you get behind on them.''
Michigan blocked 30 shots, led by senior defenseman Griffin Luce and freshman defenseman Cam York with six apiece.
IN THE BIG TEN: In the battle of first-place teams this weekend, No. 18 Minnesota is at No. 11/10 Penn State on Friday and Saturday. Both teams have 36 points.
While the Gophers, 9-2-1 in their last 12 games, have four games remaining, the Nittany Lions are playing their last two games in Big Ten play.
Penn State is 3-4-3 in its last 10 games, and is coming off a split at Wisconsin – a 4-3 loss and a 3-2 victory.
Next weekend – Feb. 28-29 – Penn State has a bye while Minnesota hosts Michigan.
In this week's other series, sixth-place Notre Dame is at Michigan. The Wolverines swept the Irish, 3-0 and 3-1, at Notre Dame in early January. Notre Dame is 2-5-3 in its last 10 Big Ten games.
Wisconsin, which is locked in to seventh (last) place with 20 points, plays a non-conference series Friday and Saturday at home against No. 9/9 Arizona State. The Badgers, who will play the second-place finisher in the first round of the playoffs, closes out the regular season at Ohio State, Feb. 28-29.
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