Michigan State University Athletics
Photo by: Andrew Knapik/MiHockey
Neil’s Notebook: Spartans Seek to Move on Quickly, Set Focus on Saturday’s Game
1/9/2021 8:16:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
By Neil Koepke
MSUSpartans.com staff writer
With their worst game of the season in the books and lingering in their minds, the challenge for Michigan State's players on Saturday is redemption.
Embarrassed and frustrated by Friday's 9-0 loss to Michigan at Yost Arena in Ann Arbor, the Spartans should be determined to raise the level of their game in all areas, and at least get a split in the Big Ten series against the No. 9 Wolverines.
Michigan State (4-5-2 overall, 3-5-1-1-0-0 Big Ten) and Michigan (6-5-0, 4-5-0-1-0-0) collide at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday at Munn Arena.
Coming off two of their best defensive games of the season in a series split with Pen State, in which they gave up only one goal in each game, the Spartans were overwhelmed early Friday, falling behind 3-0 before the game was 12 minutes old.
Michigan added two goals in the second period and four in the third and gave up only a few quality scoring chances while posting a shutout.
"From the beginning, things didn't go well. I think we left some of our hands and legs on the bus,'' MSU coach Danton Cole said. "They were obviously jumping and we weren't. We were definitely chasing the game.
"Things that we have to do and the pace we have to play at, we just didn't do that very much.''
Michigan outshot MSU, 44-21, starting with a 16-3 edge in the first period.
The Wolverines scored three goals in 6 minutes and 26 seconds in the opening period – by Thomas Bordeleau (5:08), Nick Blankenburg (9:47) and Johnny Beecher (11:34).
Down 3-0 and goalie Drew DeRidder not looking sharp, Cole and assistant coach Joe Exter decided to make a change. Freshman Pierce Charleson replaced DeRidder and immediately made a few great saves and looked sharp in his Spartan debut.
U-M beat him twice in the second period and took advantage of some good puck luck and scrambly play around the net to score four goals in the third period.
"There will be a lot of things that we'll discuss, and all areas of our game have to be a heck of a lot better,'' Cole said. "Our intensity has to be better. Just everything.
"We'll have a quick meeting before we jump on the bus, and we'll get back and get ourselves ready to play really good hockey tomorrow at Munn.''
DeRidder made six saves before he was replaced at 11:34 of the first period. Charleson stopped 29 shots. U-M goalie Strauss Mann not only posted a shutout with 21 saves, he also contributed offensively with two assists.
Freshman center Kent Johnson led U-M with a goal and four assists while Michael Pastujov, Garrett Van Wyhe, Jack Becker, Matty Beniers and each scored one goal.
The last time Michigan State allowed nine goals or more was at Northern Michigan in a 10-4 loss on Oct. 18, 2002. In the second game of that series, MSU defeated NMU, 3-1.
The Spartans' lost loss by nine goals or more was an 11-1 defeat at Lake Superior State on Feb. 11, 1994. The next night, the teams played to a 3-3 tie.
Before Friday, the Spartans had given up a total of nine goals in their last five games, including only one goal in three of the past four.
"I think it was more on our forwards just not doing a good job with the puck and getting on the wrong side of things, and our third guy not having a great angle,'' Cole said
. "It wasn't horrible. I think most of the odd-man situations actually came out of some bad changes, which is something we can definitely address.
"There were like nine million things, but the guys have to play with the right intensity, and when you play a team like Michigan with some of the players they have, it can get away from you quickly.''
Michigan State was 0-for-2 on the power play while Michigan was 2-for-5.
For the second straight game, the Spartans played without senior center and co-captain Tommy Apap, who was injured in the first Penn State game last Sunday.
"We missed him on the ice – especially faceoffs and penalty killing,'' Cole said. "He's heavy and can give us some good matchups. We had a few other guys out as well and you have to battle through those things. Everybody goes through it.''
Freshman forward A.J. Hodgins and freshman defenseman Nash Nienhaus were also scratched.
BRIGHT SPOTS? Well, there weren't many but Coach Danton Cole did see some positives.
He praised the play of center Jake Smith's line with Adam Goodsir and Gino Esteves on the wings.
"They had a pretty good night,'' Cole said. "I know they probably had a couple minuses like everyone else. They played in the offensive zone, worked hard and got pucks behind them.
"Nodler's line (with Charlie Combs and Mitchell Lewandowski actually had an OK night.''
Combs probably had MSU's best scoring chance when he had a breakaway from the U-M blue line midway through the second period. He skated in close and went to his backhand but Mann made the save.
Freshman goalie Pierce Charleson, making his collegiate debut, replaced starter Drew DeRidder midway through the first period and looked pretty sharp. He made 14 saves in the second period and gave up two goals but played well.
In the third period, Michigan struck for four goals – two early and two late.
"At the end of the first period and through most of the second period, he did a real nice job,'' Cole said. "In the third, he had some bad puck luck with pucks that bounced around and guys falling down, but he got his feet wet.
"He got in there and battled and made some good saves early and, hopefully, it's something for him to build on.''
IN THE BIG TEN: Ohio State built a 3-2 lead over Penn State after two periods and scored two goals early in the third period and went on to a 6-3 victory over the Nittany Lions on Friday in Columbus. Senior Austin Pooley and freshman Travis Treloar each had two goals for the Buckeyes. OSU and PSU will conclude the series on Saturday.
In Saturday-Sunday series, No. 1 Minnesota plays at No 12/14 Wisconsin and No. 18 Notre Dame plays host to Arizona State in non-conference play.
MSUSpartans.com staff writer
With their worst game of the season in the books and lingering in their minds, the challenge for Michigan State's players on Saturday is redemption.
Embarrassed and frustrated by Friday's 9-0 loss to Michigan at Yost Arena in Ann Arbor, the Spartans should be determined to raise the level of their game in all areas, and at least get a split in the Big Ten series against the No. 9 Wolverines.
Michigan State (4-5-2 overall, 3-5-1-1-0-0 Big Ten) and Michigan (6-5-0, 4-5-0-1-0-0) collide at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday at Munn Arena.
Coming off two of their best defensive games of the season in a series split with Pen State, in which they gave up only one goal in each game, the Spartans were overwhelmed early Friday, falling behind 3-0 before the game was 12 minutes old.
Michigan added two goals in the second period and four in the third and gave up only a few quality scoring chances while posting a shutout.
"From the beginning, things didn't go well. I think we left some of our hands and legs on the bus,'' MSU coach Danton Cole said. "They were obviously jumping and we weren't. We were definitely chasing the game.
"Things that we have to do and the pace we have to play at, we just didn't do that very much.''
Michigan outshot MSU, 44-21, starting with a 16-3 edge in the first period.
The Wolverines scored three goals in 6 minutes and 26 seconds in the opening period – by Thomas Bordeleau (5:08), Nick Blankenburg (9:47) and Johnny Beecher (11:34).
Down 3-0 and goalie Drew DeRidder not looking sharp, Cole and assistant coach Joe Exter decided to make a change. Freshman Pierce Charleson replaced DeRidder and immediately made a few great saves and looked sharp in his Spartan debut.
U-M beat him twice in the second period and took advantage of some good puck luck and scrambly play around the net to score four goals in the third period.
"There will be a lot of things that we'll discuss, and all areas of our game have to be a heck of a lot better,'' Cole said. "Our intensity has to be better. Just everything.
"We'll have a quick meeting before we jump on the bus, and we'll get back and get ourselves ready to play really good hockey tomorrow at Munn.''
DeRidder made six saves before he was replaced at 11:34 of the first period. Charleson stopped 29 shots. U-M goalie Strauss Mann not only posted a shutout with 21 saves, he also contributed offensively with two assists.
Freshman center Kent Johnson led U-M with a goal and four assists while Michael Pastujov, Garrett Van Wyhe, Jack Becker, Matty Beniers and each scored one goal.
The last time Michigan State allowed nine goals or more was at Northern Michigan in a 10-4 loss on Oct. 18, 2002. In the second game of that series, MSU defeated NMU, 3-1.
The Spartans' lost loss by nine goals or more was an 11-1 defeat at Lake Superior State on Feb. 11, 1994. The next night, the teams played to a 3-3 tie.
Before Friday, the Spartans had given up a total of nine goals in their last five games, including only one goal in three of the past four.
"I think it was more on our forwards just not doing a good job with the puck and getting on the wrong side of things, and our third guy not having a great angle,'' Cole said
. "It wasn't horrible. I think most of the odd-man situations actually came out of some bad changes, which is something we can definitely address.
"There were like nine million things, but the guys have to play with the right intensity, and when you play a team like Michigan with some of the players they have, it can get away from you quickly.''
Michigan State was 0-for-2 on the power play while Michigan was 2-for-5.
For the second straight game, the Spartans played without senior center and co-captain Tommy Apap, who was injured in the first Penn State game last Sunday.
"We missed him on the ice – especially faceoffs and penalty killing,'' Cole said. "He's heavy and can give us some good matchups. We had a few other guys out as well and you have to battle through those things. Everybody goes through it.''
Freshman forward A.J. Hodgins and freshman defenseman Nash Nienhaus were also scratched.
BRIGHT SPOTS? Well, there weren't many but Coach Danton Cole did see some positives.
He praised the play of center Jake Smith's line with Adam Goodsir and Gino Esteves on the wings.
"They had a pretty good night,'' Cole said. "I know they probably had a couple minuses like everyone else. They played in the offensive zone, worked hard and got pucks behind them.
"Nodler's line (with Charlie Combs and Mitchell Lewandowski actually had an OK night.''
Combs probably had MSU's best scoring chance when he had a breakaway from the U-M blue line midway through the second period. He skated in close and went to his backhand but Mann made the save.
Freshman goalie Pierce Charleson, making his collegiate debut, replaced starter Drew DeRidder midway through the first period and looked pretty sharp. He made 14 saves in the second period and gave up two goals but played well.
In the third period, Michigan struck for four goals – two early and two late.
"At the end of the first period and through most of the second period, he did a real nice job,'' Cole said. "In the third, he had some bad puck luck with pucks that bounced around and guys falling down, but he got his feet wet.
"He got in there and battled and made some good saves early and, hopefully, it's something for him to build on.''
IN THE BIG TEN: Ohio State built a 3-2 lead over Penn State after two periods and scored two goals early in the third period and went on to a 6-3 victory over the Nittany Lions on Friday in Columbus. Senior Austin Pooley and freshman Travis Treloar each had two goals for the Buckeyes. OSU and PSU will conclude the series on Saturday.
In Saturday-Sunday series, No. 1 Minnesota plays at No 12/14 Wisconsin and No. 18 Notre Dame plays host to Arizona State in non-conference play.
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