Michigan State University Athletics
Neil’s Notebook: Spartans, Wolverines Ready to Tangle on Friday
1/7/2021 11:02:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
By Neil Koepke
MSUSpartans.com staff writer
EAST LANSING – Michigan State has done some positive things during its first 10 games this season. And, of course, there's a few areas the Spartans would like to have done better.
And it's the same with Michigan. The Wolverines, arguably with the best freshman class in college hockey, got off to an impressive start and locked in a high ranking in the polls. But U-M has had its issues, too, and has lost three games in a row.
Both teams are .500 overall and below .500 in the Big Ten.
More than a month-and-a-half into the 2020-21 season, Michigan State are and Michigan finally get to embrace their rivalry this weekend, and eager to achieve better things in 2021 and move up in the Big Ten standings.
The Spartans (4-4-2 overall, 3-4-1-2-0-0) and No. 9/9 Wolverines (5-5-0, 3-5-0-1-0-0) meet at 7 p.m. Friday at Yost Arena in Ann Arbor and at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Munn Arena. Saturday's game will be televised by the Big Ten Network.
After playing eight conference games, the teams are tied for fifth place with 8 points apiece.
Five days after playing an offensive-minded team in Penn State – and splitting a two-game series – (1-0 loss, 5-1 win) - Michigan State is bracing for another challenge against a program known for its ability to score goals.
The Spartans held Penn State to one goal in each game and they would love to do the same against the Wolverines – or even limit them to no more than two goals, or even three if MSU can managed to score four. For sure, none, one or two sound better.
The bottom line is Michigan State just wants to score more goals than its rival and come away with victories.
"Michigan has some high-end guys, lot of NTDP (National Team Development Program) guys who have played together before,'' MSU coach Danton Cole said. "They move the puck well offensively and have some good IQs out there. We'll have to do a good job defending them.''
Michigan's top four scorers are freshmen, including two forwards who were drafted in the first and second rounds of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft and two other forwards who are expected to be first-round selections in the 2021 draft.
Thomas Bordeleau (3 goals, 7 assists) and Kent Johnson (2-8) share the team scoring lead with 10 points. Brendan Brisson (2-5-7) is third and Matty Beniers is fourth (3-3-6).
Bordeleau was drafted 38th overall (early second round) by the San Jose Sharks and Brisson was picked No. 29th (first round) by the Vegas Golden Knights. Beniers and Johnson are potential first-round picks this summer.
Michigan's top goal-scorer is senior Michael Pastujov with four. Other top offensive weapons include sophomore forward Johnny Beecher and sophomore defenseman Cam York and freshman defenseman Owen Power.
York and Beecher were drafted in first round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, and Power is expected to be a top-5 pick – and maybe No. 1 overall – in the 2021 draft.
York, Beniers and Brisson have been away playing for the U.S. Junior Team in the World Championships in Edmonton, and on Tuesday helped the Americans upset Canada 2-0 to win the gold medal. They're expected to be in the lineup this weekend.
"Those are good players and I just assume that everyone is going to be playing. We'll prepare for them that way,'' Cole said. "If they play, fine, if they don't it won't affect their team. They have a lot of firepower and they'll play the way they play.''
Last season, Michigan averaged 2.72 goals per game, which was 4th in the Big Ten. This year, after scoring 18 goals in their first four games, the Wolverines have scored only 12 in the last seven contests. They're averaging 3.0 goals per game, third in the conference.
Michigan, coached by fourth-year coach Mel Pearson, started the season with four straight victories but then fell out of sync and have lost five of its last six, including three in a row. The Wolverines have not played since Dec. 9.
Still, because of a highly skilled group of forwards, a versatile defensive unit that contributes to the offense and strong goaltending, the Wolverines have high expectations for the stretch run in the Big Ten.
"I think there are similarities to last year. Mel does a nice job with their team – the way they play through the neutral zone, play offensively and putting guys in position,'' Cole said. "They have playmakers – guys who can make good plays. They'll present a lot of the same challenges they did last year.''
Keeping the puck out of the net through consistent defensive play and outstanding goaltending have been Michigan State's strengths this season. The Spartans, who haven't given up more than three goals (not counting empty-netters) in any game, are confident in their abilities to contain Michigan's offense.
"Penn State puts a lot pressure on you by putting a lot of shots on goal and dumping the puck in and putting pressure on you with their forecheck and Michigan can do the same thing,'' senior defenseman and co-captain Tommy Miller said. "They put up a good amount of offense in their games but I'm confident that with our defense and our systems, we'll be able to deal with it.
"I think that's one of our identities this year. We're confident in our D zone that we'll be able to handle what comes at us.''
One thing that's unique to the Michigan State-Michigan rivalry is high emotion, having the home crowds as an advantage and dealing with a raucous gathering on the road. The fan aspect won't be a factor this year because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Only families of the players and staff are allowed in the arena.
But emotions will still be there and something each team will have to deal with, especially with so many freshmen in the lineup for both teams.
"Sometimes you can get too emotional and that will wear you out, and sometimes you try to get it in check so much that you come out a little flat,'' Cole said. "You want to find that sweet spot (with your emotions).
"You can't hide the emotions in a rivalry game like this. If I could teach anything to our guys, it's how much fun you should have. It's a good battle – they're a good hockey team, we're a good hockey team.
"You just lay it out on the line. These are the kinds of games that you remember years down the road. I remember the Michigan games really well.''
As a Spartan player – 69 goals in four seasons - Cole went 14-6 against the Wolverines during his four-year career from 1985-89.
"It's something that we have in college sports that's unique and you should enjoy it,'' he said. "Get in the moment and have fun with it.''
THE MSU – U-M RIVALRY: Michigan holds a 169-137-24 edge in the series and is 13-7-5 against Michigan State over the last five seasons. Last year, the Spartans swept the Wolverines, 4-3 on the road and 3-0 at home, in the first series in November. But U-M returned the favor with 5-1 and 4-1 victories in February at Munn Arena and Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, respectively.
Michigan eventually won the season series 4-2 with a 3-0, 3-0 sweep of a Big Ten first-round playoff series at Yost Arena, March 6-7. Five days later, college hockey and all other college and pro seasons, were canceled or postponed because of Covid-19.
SCOUTING THE WOLVERINES: Michigan lost several key players from last season as senior forwards Will Lockwood, Jake Slaker, Nick Pastujov and Jacob Hayhurst and senior defensemen Luke Martin and Griffin Luce graduated.
Interestingly enough, Slaker and Martin this season are playing with the Greenville (South Carolina) Swamp Rabbits of the ECHL, and they're teammates with former Michigan State goalie John Lethemon.
Michigan this season brought in nine freshmen – six forwards, two defensemen and one goaltender.
The Wolverines' roster incudes only three seniors but there's seven juniors and six sophomores.
While freshmen Thomas Bordeleau, Kent Johnson, Brendan Brisson and Matty Beniers and sophomore Johnny Beecher lead the offense, the defense is anchored by sophomore Cam York, freshman Owen Power and junior Nick Blankenburg.
Junior Strauss Mann, the Big Ten Goaltender of the Year in 2019-20, has started all 10 games. He has a 5-5 record, a 2.45 goals-against average and a .910 saves percentage. Last season, Mann was 18-13-4, with a 1.85 GAA and .939 saves percentage.
Mann's backup is freshman Erik Portillo, a 6-foot-6, 225-pound freshman from Gothenburg, Sweden, Portillo, a third-round draft pick by the Buffalo Sabes in 2019, has played in parts of two games in relief of Mann.
Michigan is converting on 28.6% of its power plays (8-for-28), which ranks No. 1 in the Big Ten. The Wolverines have allowed 10 goals in 37 power plays by opponents – 73% (6th).
Coach Mel Pearson, a 1981 Michigan Tech graduate, is in his fourth season at U-M and has a 58-50-14 record. He also coached at Michigan Tech for six seasons and has a nine-year career record of 176-142-43.
BOUNCE BACK: Michigan freshman defenseman Powell Connor made a huge mistake in Sunday's 1-0 loss against Penn State, but it didn't affect his play the rest of the game and again on Monday.
Late in the first period, Connor tried to make a normal cross-ice pass from the right faceoff circle in the MSU zone to his defense partner low in the left circle.
But as Connor went to pass to his left, his stick came over the top of the puck and just nudged it into the slot, where PSU's Sam Sternschein moved in and fired it into the top right corner. The goal stood up as the game-winner.
"That was a tough one. In a 1-0 game, you flub a pass like that, but I thought he handled it really well,'' MSU coach Danton Cole said. "He played well the rest of the game, which was good to see, and on Monday, he jumped back in and was fine. That's impressive.''
Cole said he talked to Connor after the game and noted that in a 1-0 game and two minutes to go, Connor was on the ice in a key situation and that showed the confidence the coaches have in him.
"That's how you have to look at it. You're going to make mistakes your whole life,'' the Spartans coach said. "He's got a good confidence about him. He's got a little offense (in his game) and a good hardness. He's got a lot of (former MSU defenseman) Jerad Rosburg in him.''
Connor, a 6-2, 183-pounder from Vernon, British Columbia, has played in MSU's last four games.
DERIDDER IS NO. 1 STAR: Michigan State goalie Drew DeRidder was named the Big Ten's First Star on Wednesday after two standout performances on Sunday and Monday in the Spartans' series split with Penn State.
DeRidder made 28 saves in a 1-0 loss on Sunday and came back with a 36-save effort in a 5-1 victory on Monday.
It's the third time DeRidder has been named one of the Big Ten's three stars. He was the No. 1 star on Dec. 23, after helping MSU to a 1-1 tie and 4-3 overtime win at Notre Dame the previous weekend.
In late November, DeRidder was the second star following the Spartans' 1-1 tie and 2-0 victory over Arizona State.
DeRidder is second in the Big Ten with a 1.78 goals-against average and second with a .946 saves percentage, which ranks 11th in the nation.
Minnesota forward Sampo Ranta was selected as the No. 2 star and Penn State goaltender Oskar Autio was No. 3.
IN THE BIG TEN: Every team is playing this weekend as the conference heads into the second phase of the schedule.
First-place Minnesota, ranked No. 1 in the nation, takes its unbeaten record to Wisconsin to face the No. 13/14 Badgers on Saturday and Sunday.
The Gophers (10-0-0 overall, 8-0-0-0-0-0 Big Ten) are coming off a 4-1 and 6-4 non-conference sweep of Arizona State. Wisconsin (5-5-0, 5-3-0-0-1-0) hasn't played since Dec. 4. The Badgers had their Dec. 8-9 series at Michigan State canceled because of Covid-19 issues.
In the other conference series, Ohio State (3-6-1, 3-5-0-0-1-0) plays host to Penn State (4-6-0, 2-6-0-0-0-0) on Friday and Saturday.
In a non-league series, Arizona State (4-8-2) visits Notre Dame (4-5-1, 3-4-1-0-1-1) on Saturday and Sunday.
MSUSpartans.com staff writer
EAST LANSING – Michigan State has done some positive things during its first 10 games this season. And, of course, there's a few areas the Spartans would like to have done better.
And it's the same with Michigan. The Wolverines, arguably with the best freshman class in college hockey, got off to an impressive start and locked in a high ranking in the polls. But U-M has had its issues, too, and has lost three games in a row.
Both teams are .500 overall and below .500 in the Big Ten.
More than a month-and-a-half into the 2020-21 season, Michigan State are and Michigan finally get to embrace their rivalry this weekend, and eager to achieve better things in 2021 and move up in the Big Ten standings.
The Spartans (4-4-2 overall, 3-4-1-2-0-0) and No. 9/9 Wolverines (5-5-0, 3-5-0-1-0-0) meet at 7 p.m. Friday at Yost Arena in Ann Arbor and at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Munn Arena. Saturday's game will be televised by the Big Ten Network.
After playing eight conference games, the teams are tied for fifth place with 8 points apiece.
Five days after playing an offensive-minded team in Penn State – and splitting a two-game series – (1-0 loss, 5-1 win) - Michigan State is bracing for another challenge against a program known for its ability to score goals.
The Spartans held Penn State to one goal in each game and they would love to do the same against the Wolverines – or even limit them to no more than two goals, or even three if MSU can managed to score four. For sure, none, one or two sound better.
The bottom line is Michigan State just wants to score more goals than its rival and come away with victories.
"Michigan has some high-end guys, lot of NTDP (National Team Development Program) guys who have played together before,'' MSU coach Danton Cole said. "They move the puck well offensively and have some good IQs out there. We'll have to do a good job defending them.''
Michigan's top four scorers are freshmen, including two forwards who were drafted in the first and second rounds of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft and two other forwards who are expected to be first-round selections in the 2021 draft.
Thomas Bordeleau (3 goals, 7 assists) and Kent Johnson (2-8) share the team scoring lead with 10 points. Brendan Brisson (2-5-7) is third and Matty Beniers is fourth (3-3-6).
Bordeleau was drafted 38th overall (early second round) by the San Jose Sharks and Brisson was picked No. 29th (first round) by the Vegas Golden Knights. Beniers and Johnson are potential first-round picks this summer.
Michigan's top goal-scorer is senior Michael Pastujov with four. Other top offensive weapons include sophomore forward Johnny Beecher and sophomore defenseman Cam York and freshman defenseman Owen Power.
York and Beecher were drafted in first round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, and Power is expected to be a top-5 pick – and maybe No. 1 overall – in the 2021 draft.
York, Beniers and Brisson have been away playing for the U.S. Junior Team in the World Championships in Edmonton, and on Tuesday helped the Americans upset Canada 2-0 to win the gold medal. They're expected to be in the lineup this weekend.
"Those are good players and I just assume that everyone is going to be playing. We'll prepare for them that way,'' Cole said. "If they play, fine, if they don't it won't affect their team. They have a lot of firepower and they'll play the way they play.''
Last season, Michigan averaged 2.72 goals per game, which was 4th in the Big Ten. This year, after scoring 18 goals in their first four games, the Wolverines have scored only 12 in the last seven contests. They're averaging 3.0 goals per game, third in the conference.
Michigan, coached by fourth-year coach Mel Pearson, started the season with four straight victories but then fell out of sync and have lost five of its last six, including three in a row. The Wolverines have not played since Dec. 9.
Still, because of a highly skilled group of forwards, a versatile defensive unit that contributes to the offense and strong goaltending, the Wolverines have high expectations for the stretch run in the Big Ten.
"I think there are similarities to last year. Mel does a nice job with their team – the way they play through the neutral zone, play offensively and putting guys in position,'' Cole said. "They have playmakers – guys who can make good plays. They'll present a lot of the same challenges they did last year.''
Keeping the puck out of the net through consistent defensive play and outstanding goaltending have been Michigan State's strengths this season. The Spartans, who haven't given up more than three goals (not counting empty-netters) in any game, are confident in their abilities to contain Michigan's offense.
"Penn State puts a lot pressure on you by putting a lot of shots on goal and dumping the puck in and putting pressure on you with their forecheck and Michigan can do the same thing,'' senior defenseman and co-captain Tommy Miller said. "They put up a good amount of offense in their games but I'm confident that with our defense and our systems, we'll be able to deal with it.
"I think that's one of our identities this year. We're confident in our D zone that we'll be able to handle what comes at us.''
One thing that's unique to the Michigan State-Michigan rivalry is high emotion, having the home crowds as an advantage and dealing with a raucous gathering on the road. The fan aspect won't be a factor this year because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Only families of the players and staff are allowed in the arena.
But emotions will still be there and something each team will have to deal with, especially with so many freshmen in the lineup for both teams.
"Sometimes you can get too emotional and that will wear you out, and sometimes you try to get it in check so much that you come out a little flat,'' Cole said. "You want to find that sweet spot (with your emotions).
"You can't hide the emotions in a rivalry game like this. If I could teach anything to our guys, it's how much fun you should have. It's a good battle – they're a good hockey team, we're a good hockey team.
"You just lay it out on the line. These are the kinds of games that you remember years down the road. I remember the Michigan games really well.''
As a Spartan player – 69 goals in four seasons - Cole went 14-6 against the Wolverines during his four-year career from 1985-89.
"It's something that we have in college sports that's unique and you should enjoy it,'' he said. "Get in the moment and have fun with it.''
THE MSU – U-M RIVALRY: Michigan holds a 169-137-24 edge in the series and is 13-7-5 against Michigan State over the last five seasons. Last year, the Spartans swept the Wolverines, 4-3 on the road and 3-0 at home, in the first series in November. But U-M returned the favor with 5-1 and 4-1 victories in February at Munn Arena and Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, respectively.
Michigan eventually won the season series 4-2 with a 3-0, 3-0 sweep of a Big Ten first-round playoff series at Yost Arena, March 6-7. Five days later, college hockey and all other college and pro seasons, were canceled or postponed because of Covid-19.
SCOUTING THE WOLVERINES: Michigan lost several key players from last season as senior forwards Will Lockwood, Jake Slaker, Nick Pastujov and Jacob Hayhurst and senior defensemen Luke Martin and Griffin Luce graduated.
Interestingly enough, Slaker and Martin this season are playing with the Greenville (South Carolina) Swamp Rabbits of the ECHL, and they're teammates with former Michigan State goalie John Lethemon.
Michigan this season brought in nine freshmen – six forwards, two defensemen and one goaltender.
The Wolverines' roster incudes only three seniors but there's seven juniors and six sophomores.
While freshmen Thomas Bordeleau, Kent Johnson, Brendan Brisson and Matty Beniers and sophomore Johnny Beecher lead the offense, the defense is anchored by sophomore Cam York, freshman Owen Power and junior Nick Blankenburg.
Junior Strauss Mann, the Big Ten Goaltender of the Year in 2019-20, has started all 10 games. He has a 5-5 record, a 2.45 goals-against average and a .910 saves percentage. Last season, Mann was 18-13-4, with a 1.85 GAA and .939 saves percentage.
Mann's backup is freshman Erik Portillo, a 6-foot-6, 225-pound freshman from Gothenburg, Sweden, Portillo, a third-round draft pick by the Buffalo Sabes in 2019, has played in parts of two games in relief of Mann.
Michigan is converting on 28.6% of its power plays (8-for-28), which ranks No. 1 in the Big Ten. The Wolverines have allowed 10 goals in 37 power plays by opponents – 73% (6th).
Coach Mel Pearson, a 1981 Michigan Tech graduate, is in his fourth season at U-M and has a 58-50-14 record. He also coached at Michigan Tech for six seasons and has a nine-year career record of 176-142-43.
BOUNCE BACK: Michigan freshman defenseman Powell Connor made a huge mistake in Sunday's 1-0 loss against Penn State, but it didn't affect his play the rest of the game and again on Monday.
Late in the first period, Connor tried to make a normal cross-ice pass from the right faceoff circle in the MSU zone to his defense partner low in the left circle.
But as Connor went to pass to his left, his stick came over the top of the puck and just nudged it into the slot, where PSU's Sam Sternschein moved in and fired it into the top right corner. The goal stood up as the game-winner.
"That was a tough one. In a 1-0 game, you flub a pass like that, but I thought he handled it really well,'' MSU coach Danton Cole said. "He played well the rest of the game, which was good to see, and on Monday, he jumped back in and was fine. That's impressive.''
Cole said he talked to Connor after the game and noted that in a 1-0 game and two minutes to go, Connor was on the ice in a key situation and that showed the confidence the coaches have in him.
"That's how you have to look at it. You're going to make mistakes your whole life,'' the Spartans coach said. "He's got a good confidence about him. He's got a little offense (in his game) and a good hardness. He's got a lot of (former MSU defenseman) Jerad Rosburg in him.''
Connor, a 6-2, 183-pounder from Vernon, British Columbia, has played in MSU's last four games.
DERIDDER IS NO. 1 STAR: Michigan State goalie Drew DeRidder was named the Big Ten's First Star on Wednesday after two standout performances on Sunday and Monday in the Spartans' series split with Penn State.
DeRidder made 28 saves in a 1-0 loss on Sunday and came back with a 36-save effort in a 5-1 victory on Monday.
It's the third time DeRidder has been named one of the Big Ten's three stars. He was the No. 1 star on Dec. 23, after helping MSU to a 1-1 tie and 4-3 overtime win at Notre Dame the previous weekend.
In late November, DeRidder was the second star following the Spartans' 1-1 tie and 2-0 victory over Arizona State.
DeRidder is second in the Big Ten with a 1.78 goals-against average and second with a .946 saves percentage, which ranks 11th in the nation.
Minnesota forward Sampo Ranta was selected as the No. 2 star and Penn State goaltender Oskar Autio was No. 3.
IN THE BIG TEN: Every team is playing this weekend as the conference heads into the second phase of the schedule.
First-place Minnesota, ranked No. 1 in the nation, takes its unbeaten record to Wisconsin to face the No. 13/14 Badgers on Saturday and Sunday.
The Gophers (10-0-0 overall, 8-0-0-0-0-0 Big Ten) are coming off a 4-1 and 6-4 non-conference sweep of Arizona State. Wisconsin (5-5-0, 5-3-0-0-1-0) hasn't played since Dec. 4. The Badgers had their Dec. 8-9 series at Michigan State canceled because of Covid-19 issues.
In the other conference series, Ohio State (3-6-1, 3-5-0-0-1-0) plays host to Penn State (4-6-0, 2-6-0-0-0-0) on Friday and Saturday.
In a non-league series, Arizona State (4-8-2) visits Notre Dame (4-5-1, 3-4-1-0-1-1) on Saturday and Sunday.
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