Spartans Set to Duel With Wolverines in B1G Tournament

Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals: No. 6 seed Michigan State (15-17-2, 11-11-2-0 B1G) at No. 3 seed Michigan (16-14-4, 11-10-3-2 B1G)
Dates | Times: Friday, March 6 | 7 p.m. // Saturday, March 7 | 7 p.m. // Sunday, March 8 | 6 p.m. (if necessary)
Location: Ann Arbor // Yost Ice Arena
Tickets: Here
Web Stream: BTN +
Radio: Spartan Sports Network (Listen Live) | Friday & Saturday –WJIM 1240-AM // Sunday – WVFN 730-AM
Game Notes: Michigan State | Michigan | Big Ten
Big Ten Tournament Bracket | Big Ten Tournament Home Page

On The Fly…
• The sixth-seeded Spartans will travel to Ann Arbor to face No. 3 seed Michigan in a best-of-three Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal series, beginning Friday at 7 p.m.

• MSU went 2-2 against Michigan this season … Over the last four seasons, the Spartans are 3-2-1 at Yost … This season will mark the first postseason matchup between MSU and UM since the 2015 Big Ten Tournament semifinal at Joe Louis Arena (L, 4-1).

• Michigan State finished the regular season with 35 points and in sixth place – three points out of the three-way tie for second place … MSU took four of six points (W, 3-1; T, 2-2) last weekend at Notre Dame to end the regular season.

• John Lethemon finished the regular season as the Big Ten leader in save percentage (.937), saves (953) and shutouts (5) … His .937 save percentage is tied for third best in the country.

• In Big Ten play, Lethemon was even better as he led the league in GAA (1.99), save percentage (.942), saves (743) and shutouts (4).

• Patrick Khodorenko ended the regular season as the Big Ten leader in goals in conference games with 13, while finishing tied for fourth in the scoring race with 22 points ... On the season, Khodorenko is one of only seven Big Ten players with at least 30 points as he ranks fourth with 33 points (16g, 17a).

• MSU ended the regular season as the Big Ten leader in penalty kill percentage in conference games at .873.

• Dennis Cesana had a point in both games last weekend, including the game-winning goal in Friday's 3-1 win and is third among all Big Ten defensemen in points with 22 (7g, 15a).

• Jerad Rosburg leads the nation in blocked shots with 81 … His 255 career blocked shots are the third highest total in program history.

• Logan Lambdin was named the Big Ten Second Star of the Week on Tuesday after he had his first multi-point games of the season last weekend, registering a goal and assist in both games … The senior has a career high 17 points (7g, 10a), which is tied for fourth on the team.

• Michigan State leads the Big Ten and ranks sixth nationally in faceoff winning percentage at .538 … Junior Tommy Apap leads the conference in total faceoff wins (370) and is second in winning percentage (.588).

• Michigan State has game-winning goals from 11 different players this season, which is the most Spartans with GWGs since 2007-08 (11).

About Michigan
The Wolverines took five of six points (T, 2-2 SOW; W, 2-1) at Minnesota to end the regular season … After a four-game winning streak, Michigan finished the season 1-2-1 … Michigan's top three scorers are all seniors: Jake Slaker (12-16--28), Will Lockwood (8-13--21) and Nick Pastujov (8-8--16) … UM ranks eighth nationally and leads the Big Ten in goals against per game at 2.12 … The Wolverines' power play is operating at 17.9% (21-for-117), while its penalty kill is at 83% (83-of-100) … Goaltender Strauss Mann Has a .936 GAA and 1.97 GAA.

vs. UM BTT matchup graphic

The Regular Season Series vs. UM
In splitting the regular season series, both teams picked up sweeps … The Spartans swept the home-and-home series in November, scoring three unanswered goals to win 4-3 at Yost, and then shutting out the Wolverines, 3-0, two nights later at Munn … Three weeks ago, UM won 5-1 at Munn and then 4-1 at Little Caesars Arena … MSU went 2-for-7 in the power play in the four games vs. UM, while UM had more than double the chances, going 3-for-15.

Postseason History in the Rivalry
While it's the most-played rivalry in college hockey, the Spartans and Wolverines have met only 24 times in the postseason with MSU holding a 15-9 advantage. Their only meeting in the Big Ten Tournament came March 20, 2015 at Joe Louis Arena – a 4-1 UM win in the semifinals. The last CCHA Playoff series between the teams was in 2010, when the lower seeded Wolverines upset the Spartans in a sweep at Munn. The lone postseason meeting between the teams in Ann Arbor came in the WCHA Playoffs in the Spartans' national championship season of 1966– a 3-2 MSU victory.

The Spartans' last postseason win vs. the Wolverines came in the 2006 CCHA Tournament semifinals – 4 -1 – at Joe Louis Arena.

Patty Paces the Offense
After being among the top Spartan scorers the last two seasons, Patrick Khodorenko leads the team this year in goals (16), assists (17) and points (33). His 33 points rank fourth in the Big Ten, while his 16 goals are second most.

The Hobey Baker candidate is tied for the Big Ten lead with 11 multi-point games, in which MSU is 8-3. In Big Ten play, he has a league best eight multi-point games. Some of his notable multi-point games include: a hat trick in a 4-2 win over Penn State on Jan. 24; a two-goal game with an OT game-winner vs. Wisconsin on Dec. 7; and a two-goal game, including the tying goal, in a 4-3 comeback win at Michigan on Nov. 14. Earlier this season, Khodorenko compiled a career best six-game point streak from Oct. 26 - Nov. 14 over which he produced 12 points (6g, 6a).

The Wall of Lethemon
John Lethemon continues to be among the best the nation save percentage, entering Friday tied for third at .937. Lethemon has allowed two or fewer goals in 19 of 30 starts, including in 16 of 23 conference games. Lethemon is coming off a weekend in which he posted a .960 save percentage in going 1-0-1 at Notre Dame, allowing a total of three goals.

In Big Ten play, Lethemon's numbers were even better as he led the league in GAA (1.99), save percentage (.942), saves (743) and shutouts (4).

The Northville, Michigan native has made a remarkable improvement over his career numbers entering the season. Lethemon's current .937 save percentage is .039 better than his career average entering the year, while his 2.10 GAA is 1.03 below is average through his first three seasons.

Michigan State vs. Ohio State, Feb. 22, 2020

Michigan State vs. Ohio State, Feb. 22, 2020

Trending Up in the B1G
The Spartans have continued their progress in multiple facets under third-year head coach Danton Cole, most notably in Big Ten play in finishing just six points out of first place this season. MSU has increased its Big Ten win totals (6 in 2017-18; 8 in 2018-19; 11 in 2019-20) and point totals (21 in 2017-18; 30 in 2018-19; 35 in 2019-20) in each of Cole's three seasons.

The Spartans' 11 Big Ten wins were tied for second most in the league this season and also matched the program's highest Big Ten win total (2014-15).

PK Getting The Job Done
The Spartans have a league-best 87.3% penalty kill percentage in conference play, which includes extinguishing 47 of the last 53 opponent power plays over the last 18 conference games.

Earlier this season, MSU went six consecutive games without allowing a power play goal, extinguishing 20 consecutive power plays form Nov. 30 – Dec. 15, which was its best penalty killing stretch of year.

On the season, MSU ranks 23rd in the country with an 81.4% PK percentage, which is 5.2% above its average from last season.

B1G Lockdown
The Spartans have improved their overall goals-against average by just over a goal per game this season. Entering Friday, the Spartans' 2.41 goals-against per game ranks 19th nationally and is 0.98 better than last year's average. In Big Ten play, the Spartans have been even stingier at 2.25, which is second in the league.

MSU allowed two or fewer goals in 15 of 24 conference games in 2019-20. Earlier this season, the Spartans allowed three or fewer goals from Nov. 9 – Dec. 6 (all in conference play), marking the first time MSU allowed three or fewer in seven consecutive games since the 2013-14 season.

In Big Ten Games, MSU…
• Led the league in penalty kill percentage at .873
• Led the league in faceoff winning percentage at .537
• Ranked second in goals against per game at 2.25
• Ranked second in total goals allowed at 54

Getting Defensive
The Spartans average of 2.41 goals against per game ranks 19th nationally and is nearly a goal per game better than last year's average of 3.39. The Spartans' current 2.41 goals allowed per game average is the lowest by an MSU squad since 2014-15, which ended the year with a mark of 2.29.

Michigan State vs. Ohio State, Feb. 22, 2020

Lambdin Named B1G Second Star
Senior Logan Lambdin has produced a career high in points (17), goals (7) and assists (10) this season for the Spartans. He had his first multi-point games of the season last weekend at Notre Dame, registerning a goal an an assist in each game and was named the Big Ten Second Star of the Week. It marked the first weekly conference honor of his career.

MSU is 11-3-1 in games Lambdin has recorded a point this season. Earlier this year he had the best point-producing spurt of his career with a six-game streak from Nov. 8-23. The streak tied Patrick Khodorenko for the longest by a Spartan this season as Lambdin produced six points (3g, 3a) over the span.

Lambdin's points came at big moments over the six-game span. The streak started Nov. 8 at No. 6 Penn State where he sealed the MSU win with an empty-net goal. Against Michigan, Lambdin broke a 3-3 tie by scoring the game-winning goal on the power play in the third period of a 4-3 win. Two nights later, he helped set up the game-winning goal. Against Notre Dame (Nov. 22-23), he scored the game-tying goal with 6:12 to go in the third period of the Spartans 3-2 come-from-behind win.

Khodo Hits 5-0; One of the Best Spartan Point-Producers of the 2000s
Patrick Khodorenko's hat trick vs. Penn State on Jan. 24 gave him 52 career goals as he became the first Spartan since Tim Crowder (2005-09) to hit the 50-career goal mark and only ninth Spartan since 2000 to reach the milestone. Khodorenko's 54 career goals are the sixth most by any Spartan since 2000; the last player with more than 54 in a career was Bryan Lerg, who had 68 (2004-08).

Earlier this season Khodorenko became the 16th Spartan since 2000 to hit the 100-career point mark. His 120 points are the eighth most by a Spartan since 2000 and most since Bryan Lerg had 128 (2004-08).

Better as the Game Goes On
One key to the Spartans' success in Big Ten games has been their ability to outscore opponents over the final two periods. In its 11 Big Ten wins, MSU has outscored opponents by a margin of 29-11 over the second and third periods combined (not including empty-net goals).

Spartans, Apap Strong in the Dot
The Spartans lead the Big Ten and rank sixth in the country in faceoff winning percentage at .538. Junior center Tommy Apap leads the conference in faceoff wins (370) and is second in winning percentage (.588). The Spartans have won more faceoffs than their opponents in 22 of 34 games, including taking a season-high 69% of draws in a 5-1 win at Colorado College on Oct. 26.

Someone New Playing the Hero
Michigan State has game-winning goals from 11 different players this season, which is the most Spartans with GWGs since 2007-08 (11). Four Spartans have two game-winners, including Tommy Apap (Oct. 11 at Northern Michigan; Jan. 17 at Wisconsin) and Cole Krygier (Oct. 26 at Colorado College; Jan. 24 vs. Penn State), whose game-winning goals this season were the first of their careers. Other first-time game-winning goal scorers include: Dennis Cesana (Feb. 28 at Notre Dame), Gianluca Esteves (Jan. 10 vs. Minnesota), Tommy Miller (Dec. 6 vs. Wisconsin), Butrus Ghafari (Feb. 8 at Minnesota) and Josh Nodler (Nov. 16 vs. Michigan).

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Tommy Apap

Dennis Cesana

Gianluca Esteves

Butrus Ghafari

Patrick Khodorenko

Cole Krygier

Logan Lambdin

John Lethemon

Tommy Miller

Josh Nodler

Jerad Rosburg